Lexus LX

1995–1997

Rapidly developed in the mid-1990s as a result of threatening US trade sanctions on Japanese luxury cars, the LX 450 started production in November 1995[4] and was released to the US in January 1996 as a 1996 model; Canada received the LX from 1997. The LX 450 was Lexus's first SUV and was almost entirely based on the sixth generation Toyota Land Cruiser (J80). Differences lay in a restyled, more luxurious interior and softer suspension settings. The first LX 450 rolled off the production line in December 1995.[5]

The LX 450 was powered by a 4.5-liter, twin-cam, four-valve inline-six engine that produced 215 hp and 275 lbft of torque. Both front and rear axles were solid. Externally, the LX 450 was identical to the J80 series Land Cruiser, with the exception of the grille, side body cladding, and wheels.[5] Side running boards give step-up access.[5] The vehicle had additional sound-absorbing insulation.[5]

Amenities included leather seats and seating for seven passengers in three rows,[5] the third row accessed by tilting the second row bench seat forward. The third row could be folded to the side and the second row folded down for further space.[5] The vehicle was pre-wired for the Lexus remote telephone system, and had a remote entry key system.[5] The three options consisted of a console-mounted 6-disc CD changer, electronic front and rear locking differentials, and a power moonroof.[5] At the time of its sales debut in early 1996, the LX 450 was listed in the US at a suggested base price of $47,995,[5] an approximately $7,000 premium over the Land Cruiser, with a base price of $40,678 in 1996,[5] but a similarly optioned Land Cruiser would cost $46,968.[6]

Targeted against luxury SUV competitors such as Range Rover, the LX 450 sold over 5,000 units in 1996 and over 9,000 units in 1997. At its launch it sold out its initial production allocation, resulting in a two-month wait list, surpassing initial expectations which had called for 4,000 units that year.[5] It was brought to market as US buyers showed greater interest in large SUVs, which had grown popular because of their high driver's vantage point and truck-like characteristics.[5] Lexus customer research revealed that one in six owners were purchasing large SUVs to add to their garages.[5] An additional factor was the US-Japan trade war of the mid-1990s. The US government threatened to place 100 percent tariffs on all Japanese luxury import cars, but not including SUVs. The LX 450 was produced as a rebadged model (in contrast with other Lexus efforts which were independently or divergently developed from Toyota vehicles), giving a model that was exempt from the tariff.[7] Ultimately a gentlemen's agreement was reached and the threatened tariffs did not materialize.

The LX 450 replaced the Land Cruiser in the Canadian market starting after 1996, reducing internal competition (big expensive SUVs have traditionally faced a difficult market in Canada) and avoiding the issue of selling a rebadged model (except for GM, Ford and Chrysler, rebadged models in Canada have not met with success). For a 5000 lb vehicle, the LX 450 was regarded by some critics as underpowered,[8] leading to the shortening of its model cycle (despite sales increases) and replacement with a V8-powered successor.

The LX 450 was the top-ranked full-size SUV in J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Survey, with the lowest number of problems during the first three months of ownership.

Engines

1998–2002

In the mid-1990s, work started on a Lexus variant of the Toyota Land Cruiser (J100), the LX (J100). The final design by Hiroya Kitazumi was approved in 1995, with updates by Kitazumi approved in 2001 and 2004.[9][10] Testing was conducted from the mid-1990s till late 1997. In December 1997, the second generation LX 470 debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, going on sale in the second quarter of 1998. It shared the floor pan and most body panels with the equivalent Land Cruiser, and differed in its front appearance and had a more luxurious interior. Exterior design differences included a quad-headlamp forward fascia with larger grille and different wheels. It was powered by a LEV-certified 4.7-liter V8 engine, which initially produced 230 hp, later upgraded to 235 hp, then 268 hp. The final torque value was 328 lb·ft. It was rated to tow 6500 lb with the tow package installed.

The front gained independent suspension, and the optional electronic locking front and rear differentials were dropped – although the rear locking differential was still available in Canada in 1998–1999. Suspension included Adjustable Height Control (AHC) hydraulic suspension and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). The AHC could raise the vehicle for off-roading and return to a normal driving height reducing the center of gravity and wind resistance. The lowest setting for when the vehicle was stopped allowed for easier entry, exit and loading. AVS alters shock absorber firmness in under 2.5 milliseconds at each wheel, individually selecting from a range of 64 settings depending on road conditions and driver input such as steering-wheel activity, braking and acceleration. The AVS system used a switch for the driver's preferences including "normal", "comfort" and "sport" modes.

Nakamichi stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer was optional from 1998, and became standard in 2000. A DVD-based navigation system was offered starting in 2001 with the brand new standard Mark Levinson sound system. The navigation system would become standard from 2002. Electrochromic power folding side mirrors, and a smog sensor for the HVAC system were offered.[11] For 2000 models, Vehicle Stability Control and brake assist were made standard, along with Toyota's new A-TRAC (Active Traction Control System).

2002–2005

During 2002 for the 2003 model year, Lexus introduced minor tweaks to the exterior, a 5-speed transmission including larger standard 18-inch wheels, a new front bumper, etc. The interior was substantially overhauled, adopting the corresponding updates to the Land Cruiser's interior, and with Bluetooth and a backup camera now available. In the US, both were optional with the camera coupled with the navigation system, due to the shared screen. Lexus increased power from 230 hp to 235 hp. The updated engine now met CARB ULEV-II emission standards. Lexus added front row side torso airbags and side curtain airbags, electronic brakeforce distribution and rain-sensing windshield wipers as standard. An 11-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system and a DVD Rear-Seat Entertainment System (RSES) were made optional. Other new features included Lexus Link, an emergency service similar to GM's Onstar, in North America.

The Night View infrared camera safety system was offered as an option in 2002, projecting information on the windshield using a head-up display; the driver could vary brightness using a dimmer knob. The 2003 LX 470 came with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) system, varying steering ratios from 12.4 to 1 to 18.0 to 1 (previously fixed at 19.8 to 1), allowing the driver to apply less steering input to maneuver in tight places such as parking lots. By changing the ratio on the highway, minor adjustments made by the driver would not create excessive vehicular movement.

2005–2007

In 2005 for the 2006 model year, a refresher included LED tail lamps, adding VVT-i to the engine and increasing its power to 275 hp. During 2006, for the final model year, 2007, Lexus produced 400 "Limited Edition" LX 470s with Black Onyx paint, stone leather interior, and specialized badging and scuff plates.

Several awards were made for the J100 series:

• The LX 470 was named by J.D. Power and Associates as the best luxury SUV in initial quality in 2000, 2002, and 2004.[12][13]
• Kelley Blue Book gave the LX 470 its Best to Hold Value Award in 1998, 1999, and 2000.[14]
• In a 2000 Edmunds.com comparison with four other premium SUVs, the LX 470 took first place.[15]
• In a 2003 Edmunds.com comparison, the LX 470's Mark Levinson audio system and navigation system were the highest rated in their respective categories.[16]
• In 2005, J.D. Power named the LX 470 the most reliable luxury SUV over a three-year period in its Vehicle Dependability Study.[17]

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2007–2010

On April 4, 2007, Lexus debuted the 2008 model year LX 570 at the New York International Auto Show. It was a complete redesign, and the first version to be debuted before its expected Land Cruiser counterpart. The design by Shinichi Hiranaka was approved in 2004, who also did the design update approved in 2010.[19][18][20] It has a new UL EV-II certified 5.7 L 3UR-FE V8 engine.[21] Power output is 383 hp with 403 lb·ft of torque. The more powerful engine helps give an increased towing capacity of up to 8500 lb. The engine is tied to a six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission with an all-new 4WD system which uses a Torsen center differential.[22] Development began on both the Land Cruiser (J200) and Lexus LX equivalent in 2002. The final design was approved in 2004, with testing being conducted into early 2007 on development prototypes and late 2007 on pre-production models. The final design patent for the J200 series Lexus LX was filed on March 27, 2007.

The LX 570 is 102 mm longer overall and 1 in wider, while retaining the same wheelbase. It loses the plastic lower body side cladding leaving the paint exposed. A third of the frame's body mass is made from high-tensile steel, along with the entire B-pillar, and all three crossmembers are hydroformed steel. Like the Toyota Tundra the tow hitch is integrated into the frame. The front suspension now uses double wishbones, replacing the torsion beam, which gives 9 in of suspension travel, while the rear continues to use a multi-link suspension with a solid rear axle for strength and durability. The LX platform has logged 240,000 test kilometers through subtropical forests, the Australian Outback and American deserts.[23]

The LX 570 comes standard with 20-inch wheels, a four-wheel electro-hydraulic suspension with an updated six-setting AHC system that can raise the vehicle by 3 in or lower it by 2 in from its normal ride height using a knob in the center console. The front suspension's air bag spring rates are variable, but not continuously like a fully active suspension arrangement. The AVS provides more immediate damper firmness adjustments that are diagonally cross-linked through a mechanical system using hydraulic fluid, similar to the 4Runner's X-REAS system.

Other performance features include a Crawl Control (more advanced version of Downhill Assist Control) system that negotiates off-road obstacles in both forward and reverse at low speeds by automatically providing throttle and braking inputs for less experienced off-road drivers: an interior lever allows the driver to reduce speed. A multi-terrain anti-lock braking system gives shorter stopping distances on surfaces such as sand or gravel. Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) prevents rolling backwards on hills or slippery surfaces.[22]

The interior includes amenities, standard and optional, featured in the 2007 LS 460, such as semi-aniline leather seats, four-zone climate control, a 19-speaker 450 Watt Mark Levinson surround-sound stereo system with hard-drive memory storage, a hard-drive-based navigation system, XM satellite radio with NavTraffic as standard, a two-piece power liftgate/tailgate and Lexus Intuitive Park Assist, sonar parking assistance. Other features include Bubinga wood trim, a center console cooler for storage of cold drinks, power sliding rear seats, power third row seats, and a 9 in DVD rear-seat entertainment system.[22]

It also has the updated Lexus fifth-generation hard-drive-based navigation system with an 8-inch high-resolution VGA display. Lexus' keyless SmartAccess with an ultra-thin "smart card" key is standard with 10 airbags including knee airbags for driver and front passenger and second row side torso airbags, and the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) is standard, while the Pre-Collision System (PCS) and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control systems are options.[22] Active front headrests debut this Lexus safety feature for the first time on an SUV in the U.S. A new Wide-view Front and Side Monitor system uses a camera mounted on the grille giving a 180-degree view in front and a camera mounted on the passenger side of the side mirror helps eliminate blind spots at low speeds useful in parking lots or off-road adventures. Night View was discontinued.

In 2009, the LX 570 received J.D. Power's top score in its Initial Quality Study.[24]

2010–2012

In 2010 for the 2011 model year, Lexus introduced a mild facelift with a new front bumper, and for sports models a stick-on body kit on the front and rear bumpers. The new front bumper gave the effect of the new Lexus "spindle" grille without redesigning any of the major bodywork components. This was the first year to have the heated steering wheel option.

2012–2015

A more substantial facelift arrived in 2012 for the 2013 model year, characterized by a new grille, bumpers, headlamps, tail lamp lenses and miscellaneous trim changes such as new wheel designs.

2015–2021

Another facelift was unveiled in August 2015 at the US Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.[25][26] The update brought significant changes with an all-new interior, and the only exterior panels carried over were the doors and the roof.[27]

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