New Lexus Comes Fully Loadedc

More power and a lot more technology--that's the new Lexus LX 570.

The engine and the six-speed automatic are pulled straight from Toyota's Tundra and Land Cruiser. The old LX 470 made only 268 hp from its 4.7-liter V8, barely enough to move the 5590-pound SUV around. The new 5995-pound LX 570 goes up to 5.7 liters and 383 hp. Torque increases roughly 23 percent, to 403 lb-ft, enough to tow 8500 pounds. Go ahead, buy that bigger boat. We towed 8000 pounds at the press intro, and the 570 handled it with dignity and aplomb.

Hey, wait a second, you say, is this just a Land Cruiser with a Lexus badge on it, the way the first ES was way too much of a Camry? Oh, ye of little faith and long memory. No, it's not. Look at the spec sheet. It has more acronyms than a quartermaster's RFP--at least 13 standard features not found on the Land Cruiser.

"I'm amazed at the technology in this vehicle," said Lexus chief Mark Templin. Hey, he works there, and he's amazed!

Some are unquestionable assets, such as the VVT-i that controls the dual overhead cams, the acoustic control induction system (ACIS) that tunes the intake runners, the new transmission-fluid temperature control that warms or cools the fluid depending on conditions and active front headrests that reduce neck injuries. Luxury technology abounds, too, including a "sub-cool accelerator system" to get cold air flowing more quickly in the four-zone climate-control system and second-row seat heaters.

Other technology that competitors have had for years, such as a power liftgate, adaptive front lighting and power third-row folding seats (though they don't go into the floor, only up and to the side, and they don't come out easily), finally appears on the LX.

Then there is some technology whose worth is arguable, such as electro-hydraulic active height control, variable gear ratio steering and wide-view front and side monitors.

The off-road features start out well, with good clearance, more wheel travel, skid plates galore, tow hooks at both ends, a full-time transfer case and a lockable Torsen limited-slip center differential controlling open front and rear diffs. But then we get into overkill with a set of switches that surely will baffle the country-club set in the Neiman Marcus parking lot. Let's pray they don't hit the center-diff lock button; just leave that transfer case in H4, please (dealers, tell them this!). Crawl control helps do the work that low gearing used to do. On steep downhills, it noisily grabs each wheel individually through the ABS. It's scary loud, but it works. It'll also creep forward on uphills. Simple, lower gearing would have been better, we think.

Nonetheless, we wouldn't hesitate to take an LX 570 out into the desert and start creeping up and down stuff. For a full-boat luxury SUV, it can go anywhere. On the freeway, it's as smooth and quiet as the best in the class, and that's a pretty good class.

While prices haven't been released yet, we expect about $75,000, based on the $68,000 starting cost of the old LX. Lexus plans to sell only about 9500 a year, which seems entirely doable if the economy keeps up. And if civilization collapses, you'll want one even more.


SPECS
ON SALE: January 2008

BASE PRICE: $75,000 (est)

DRIVETRAIN: 5.7-liter, 383-hp, 403-lb-ft V8; 4wd, six-speed automatic

CURB WEIGHT: 5995 lb

0-60 MPH: 7.4 sec

FUEL ECONOMY: 14 mpg (mfr est)