Lexus squares up GX, adds twin-turbo V-6; A.J. in 74th year
I was keyed up for the midweek snowstorm, for sitting in my garage awaiting a run at the late-winter drop was the newly redesigned and empowered 2024 Lexus GX Luxury 550 body-on-frame SUV.
While lessening aggressiveness of the former spindle grille by incorporating features of it into front-end body parts, the designers toughened the GX’S appearance by squaring of the overall structure. It is a powerful stance with a bit more ground clearance.
The old 4.6-liter V-8 and its 301 horsepower have been replaced with a responsive 349-horse, twin-turbo V-6 mated to a 10-speed direct-shift automatic transmission with full-time four-wheel-drive and 8,000-pound tow capacity.
Body rigidity has been increased and handling improved through use of the new GA-F platform, a lighter-weight ladder frame shared with the bigger LX600 SUV. Occupants of the three-row Lexus GX are entertained with the 21-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound; even more special are front/rear/side/underfloor views from four cameras of the Panoramic View/multi-terrain Monitors. We drove the GX review model on Wednesday, first day of the snowfall, up U.S. 34 in Big Thompson Canyon, through Estes Park and almost to Rocky Mountain National Park near the Trailhead Restaurant. The big vehicle maintained excellent road performance, especially with use of the paddle shifters in the descent through the canyon. Tires are Dunlop Grandtrek on
22-inch wheels.
The review model is a preproduction Lexus; pricing would fall in the $75,000 to
$80,000 range. The GX is built in Tahara, Japan.
74 Years for A.J. – Is there any other automotive employee in the country who has served one new-car dealership longer than the remarkable A.J. Guanella? A.J. was recently recognized for entering his 74th year with the Chevy store down on South Broadway. He began employment at Burt Chevrolet in 1949 while in high school, starting in the parts department, then moving to sales under direction of Bob Fisher. He advanced through the sales ranks, to an eventual minority owner status. He headed Metro Denver Automobile Dealers Association at one time. When
John Elway Dealerships purchased the Burt operation in 2012,
Guanella was asked to continue his long association with the business.
Auto Show opens April 4 – Opening of the 2024 Denver Auto Show is less than three weeks away – the dates are Thursday, April 4, through Sunday, April 7, at the Colorado Convention Center.
The show will open with Senior’s
Day at noon on April 4; half-price tickets will be available for attendees 65 years of age and older. The first-day show will end at 5 p.m., as the scene shifts to the annual Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame dinner, at which six persons long associated with the automotive industry will be inducted.
Open hours will be 10 a.m. to
10 p.m. Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 7.
Ticket prices are $16 for those 13 years and older, $8 for children 6 through 12, and kids 5 and younger will be admitted without charge. The show each year is a major project of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. For more information, email info@colorado.auto.