Flagship emerges

Lexus adds LX570 S to full-size SUV line-up

Lexus Australia has introduced a new flagship luxury offroader in the form of the LX570 S.

The SUV will launch later this month priced from $168,089 plus onroad costs – $25,300 more expensive than the V8 petrol-powered upperlarge SUV upon which it is based.

To differentiate itself from the standard LX570, the S variant gains a sportier-looking front and rear bumper, darkened 21-inch forged alloy wheels and a new-look mesh-pattern front grille.

Inside, buyers of the LX570 S also gain the option of a rich burgundy semi-aniline perforated leather trim colour, dubbed Garnet, in lieu of the usual black, while the Shimanmoku Grey ornamentation is also unique to the top-spec grade.

Alloy pedals add to the sportier theme of the LX570 S, as does a front performance damper that is designed to improve body rigidity and increase steering stability.

The new high-rolling Lexus also gains variant-specific badging and side-mirror-mounted puddle lamps.

Standard equipment carries over from the LX570, which includes a reversing camera, 10 airbags, surround-view monitor, 12.3-inch highdefinition infotainment screen and four-zone climate control.

Based on a fully optioned LX570, the S variant is also equipped with Lexus’ Safety System Plus, which includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive high beam headlights, head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.

It also comes with the Enhancement Pack, which adds heated and cooled seats in both rows, and a heated steering wheel.

The S is powered by the same 270kw-530nm 5.7-litre petrol V8 as the LX570, which is fed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, and offers a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.

Fuel economy for the S grade is yet to be revealed, but expect a similar figure to the LX570’S 14.4 litres per 100km.

For long distance driving, the LX570 S also features a 93-litre main fuel tank and 45-litre sub tank.

Since March, the LX range has also included a diesel-powered LX450, which is priced from $134,129 and motivated by a 200kw-650nm 4.5-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the striking features of the new LX570 S, from its unique exterior styling to the dynamic upgrades, symbolised the evolution of the LX model and would further expand its popularity among customers.

Lexus Australia has sold 20 examples of its Toyota Landcruiser-based LX in the first nine months of 2018, a 10.4 percent lift over the same period last year.

It currently outpaces its main rival, the Infiniti QX80, that was refreshed in March, by six units.