Lexus LX: История роскошного внедорожника

Full size luxury SUV model from Lexus

The Lexus LX (レクサス・LX) is a full size luxury SUV sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota since January 1996, having entered manufacturing in November 1995. It is Lexus' largest and most expensive luxury SUV. Four generations have been produced, all based heavily on the long running Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs. The first generation LX 450 started production in 1995 as Lexus' first entry into the SUV market. Its successor, the LX 470, premiered in 1998 and was manufactured until 2007. The third generation LX debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007. The fourth generation LX debuted in October 2021. The first generation LX 450 had a straight six engine and seats for seven passengers. The second and third generations had a V8 engine powertrain, a welded steel body shell combined with full size steel ladder frame (body on frame construction), and seats for eight passengers. The fourth generation model has a twin turbocharged V6 engine powertrain and seats for seven passengers as standard and four passengers as an option. The second generation LX 470 shared exterior styling with the Japanese domestic market Land Cruiser Cygnus. According to Lexus, the "LX" name stands for "Luxury Crossover". However, some Lexus importers use the backronymic name, "Luxury Four Wheel Drive". TOC

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 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. The LX 450 was powered by a 4.5 liter, twin cam, four valve inline six engine that produced and 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. 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. 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 vehicle, the LX 450 was regarded by some critics as underpowered, 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.

Model Engine Horsepower Max. Torque Region Years LX 450 1FZ FE I6 at 4,600 rpm at 3,200 rpm 1995 1997

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. 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 , later upgraded to , then The final torque value was It was rated to tow 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. For 2000 models, Vehicle Stability Control and brake assist were made standard, along with Toyota's new A TRAC (Active Traction Control System).

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 to 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.

Model Engine Horsepower Max. Torque Region Years LX 470 2UZ FE V8 at 4,800 rpm at 3,400 rpm 1998 2005

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. It has a new UL EV II certified 5.7 L 3UR FE V8 engine. Power output is with of torque. The more powerful engine helps give an increased towing capacity of up to The engine is tied to a six speed sequential shift automatic transmission with an all new 4WD system which uses a Torsen center differential. 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 longer overall and 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 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. 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 or lower it by 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.

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.

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.

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

Model Engine Horsepower Max. Torque Region Years LX 470 2UZ FE V8 at 5,400 rpm at 3,400 rpm Hong Kong only 2007–2012 LX 460 1UR FE V8 at 5,500 rpm at 3,400 rpm Hong Kong only 2012–2014 LX 570 3UR FE V8 at 5,600 rpm at 3,200 rpm GCC, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan (since Apr 2012), Kazakhstan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, Vietnam (since Dec 2013), Malaysia (since Dec 2015) 2007–2021 LX 570 3UR FE V8 at 5,600 rpm at 3,200 rpm Japan 2015–2021 LX 570 3UR FE V8 at 5,600 rpm at 3,600 rpm United States, Canada 2007–2021 LX 570 Supercharged 3UR FE V8 at 5,400 rpm at 3,200 rpm Middle East (special edition) 2014–2015 LX 450d 1VD FTV V8 Turbodiesel at 3,600 rpm at 1,600–2,800 rpm Russia, Ukraine, Paraguay, New Zealand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan (since 2016), Georgia (since 2018), India (since 2017), Australia (since April 2018) 2015–2021

The fourth generation LX was unveiled on October 13, 2021, which is based on the J300 series Land Cruiser. Unlike the corresponding Land Cruiser, the fourth generation LX is available in North America. For the first time, two twin turbocharged V6 engines are offered instead of V8s: a gasoline unit for the LX 600, and a 3.3 liter diesel unit for the LX 500d, both mated to a 10 speed automatic transmission. The "F Sport" trim is offered for the first time, replacing the previous "Sport" trim. The "VIP/Executive/Ultra Luxury" trim with four individual seats is also available. The "Offroad" trim with three locking differentials is available exclusively in Japan.

Model Engine Horsepower Max. Torque Region Years LX 500d F33A FTV V6 at 4,000 rpm at 1,600 2,600 rpm 2022 present LX 600 V35A FTS V6 at 5,200 rpm at 2,000 3,600 rpm 2021 present

Sales data, from manufacturer yearly data. GenerationModel(s)Calendar yearU. S. salesUZJ100LX 470 2000 14,732 2001 9,320 2003 9,193 2005 8,5552007 2,46820093,61620103,98320113,16720125,00520134,62520144,05220165,70720176,00420184,75320194,71820213,563