Lexus has unveiled its flagship SUV in the form of the LX model which targets exclusive Premium and luxury buyers looking for style, durability and off road prowess.
The new LX, which embodies the brand’s commitment to meeting the diversifying needs and lifestyles of customers, is scheduled to go on sale in South Africa in the first quarter of 2022. Since its launch in 1996, the LX has sold approximately 500 000 units and that’s due to its robust mechanicals, ride comfort that can withstand all type of roads around the world. Lexus claims the new LX is designed to provide vehicle occupants with exceptional comfort and enrich their life experiences. While maintaining a traditional body-on-frame structure to ensure reliability, durability, and driving performance, it renews its characteristics by adopting the new GA-F platform, realising a weight reduction of approximately 200 kg, and achieving a digitally-developed high-rigidity body.
In terms of styling, while pursuing a design that contributes to athletic performance and function (a design perspective that began with the new NX), ideal proportions are expressed through a blending of sophistication, power, and presence befitting a flagship SUV. Among other featured technologies, Lexus’ first fingerprint-authentication push-start switch contributes to reducing the risk of theft. From a branding perspective and following the NX, the Lexus brand badge placed in the centre of the rear has been renewed from the conventional L-shaped logo to the new “LEXUS” logo to symbolise the next generation of Lexus. For the rear combination lamps, tail lamps have been adopted that combine an L-shape and a continuous axial flow from the front to the shoulders and then to the rear silhouette. The styling emphasises the new LX’s lively and sharp design and expresses Lexus consistency. New 22-inch forged alloy wheels employ the high contrast of black and machined brilliance to emphasise that they are the largest ever offered by Lexus
The new LX is more personalised, with the newly added VIP grade, which is specially designed with four independent seats for elegant and safe travel on all kinds of roads, and the F SPORT grade, which allows customers to enjoy sporty driving on winding roads. Lexus South Africa will confirm the local spec packages at launch timing. The instrument panel features Lexus’ first dual display with a 12.3-inch upper screen and 7-inch lower screen, as well as Back Underfloor View, which displays the area beneath the rear part of the vehicle as a world first.
The new LX will be available with a high-output, high-torque 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo petrol engine and a powerful 3.3-litre V6 diesel twin-turbo engine. These engines are shared with the LC 300 meaning the petrol model has 305kW/650Nm whilst the diesel engine has 225kW/700Nm. Both models drive all wheels via a 10 speed auto transmission. Multi mode drive is possible with a multitude of electronic trickery to enhance the already class leading off road credentials. Electronically controlled brakes (ECB) and an electric power steering system (EPS) are also adopted to ensure customers will be able to enjoy Lexus-unique driving performance to the fullest, both on-road and off-road.
