2008 Lexus LX 570 Review

By  Marty Padgett, Executive Editor

2008 Lexus LX 570
Enlarge Photo

with Ken Zino

Click here for high-res photos of the Lexus LX 570

Lexus says the base price of its new LX 570 sport-utility vehicle will be $74,565, while simultaneously pointing out that the new SUV has much better performance and many more safety features than the outgoing LX 470.

Outfitted with the 5.7-liter V-8 engine that’s on loan from Toyota’s Tundra pickup, the LX 570 pumps out 381 horsepower, 113 more than Toyota’s older 4.7-liter V-8. Torque has increased, too, from 328 pound-feet to 401. The new transmission teamed to the V-8 is a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting and a Torsen limited slip differential for the full-time four-wheel drive. Towing capacity increases from 6500 pounds to 8500.
 
Features to control the LX’s ride and off-road capability abound in the new ute. There’s an adaptable suspension, with quicker responses and finer adjustment than before. There’s also an active height control that lowers the chassis about two inches for easier entry and exit, and raises it at lower speeds, lowering it again at higher speeds to help out in aerodynamic and fuel-efficient ways. Crawl Control aids drivers in off-road situations requiring delicate throttle inputs. The LX also offers abundant safety equipment, including ten airbags.

At heart, the LX remains an equipment-laded version of the Toyota Land Cruiser, sharing its current 112-inch wheelbase, but now four inches longer, at 196.5 inches in overall length. Luxury features abound: crawl control for rough surfaces, four-zone climate control, power sliding second-row split seating, navigation system with Bluetooth, nine-speaker premium sound, XM satellite radio with real time traffic advisories, and power third-row seating. A rear-seat entertainment system and a 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system are options.

Stay tuned for TheCarConnection.com’s full road test of the new LX 570.

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