Lexus LX test drive since 2008 SUV
ARMS RACE
In one of the songs, Leonard Cohen promised: first We Take Manhattan, The We Take Berlin. Toyota is acting in a similar way by hitting the Lexus LX 570 in the USA at the end of 2007, and its cousin Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in Europe. The initial plan forced the engineers' team to hang various sets of equipment on one platform, and the autopilot team is divided into California and Canary groups. Intelligence on both sides of the Atlantic reported that one of the main goals of the offensive is still Russia. Just from different directions. The mid-90s in Russia gave rise to a number of unique associations. For example: business, Land Cruiser, Canaries. The European presentation Land Cruiser 200 voluntarily or involuntarily repeats this row. The target audience of the car is businessmen from 40 to 60, and the island of the Fuertever of the Canary Archipelago was chosen as a platform for tests. The name of the island for different versions means either a large adventure (from French), or a strong wind (from Spanish). Both options are appropriate for the SUV. What is associated with Kruzak in other European regions to find out almost no more than half of sales in the Old Sveta region are planned precisely for Russia.
With Lexus, everything is much more refined: Europeans are a real SUV, and even such sizes useless. The main market for this car is America. Russia is still number two here: if it is planned to sell 9500 LX 570 this year behind the ocean, then in Russia 2300. But in terms of terms, the Americans and I are almost flush. Russian sales will start in February, almost simultaneously with American ones. But we went around them in configuration: the Russian version includes a standard package of the Mark Levinson audio system with 19 speakers and cameras that look to the side and forward to the Americans must be paid extra. Even more differences between LX from Land Cruiser, with which LX was built on the same platform (just do not tell Lexus managers that we read about it). If earlier they even had a common engine, now they are different in this. The numbers in the LX 570 designation indicate 5.7 liters of working volume, and they do not deceive. Due to the growth of volume by one liter power 
in proportion, it increased by more than 20 percent and is now 383 hp. At the same time, as it is now fashionable, fuel consumption has even decreased slightly, and the release of poisonous substances, too. As you can see, the idea of \u200b\u200bimproving the standard of living may coexist with a decrease in damage to others. The new Lexus exceeds cousin-Toyota even in transmission: if the LC 200 with a gasoline engine has only five ranges in the transmission, then LX 570 six. And the list of differences in standard configuration is almost no more extensive than the description of the Land Cruiser configuration. Now we know for sure that Lexus buyers pay not only for the emblem and a larger number of service personnel at the dealer per unit of clientele. Well, we, of course, had understood this before (tell the Lexus managers about this). Of course, cars differ in appearance. Although the forms are close, radiator cladding, optics and wheels create a different style.
Lexus is slightly larger, and most importantly, elegant headlights with bi xenon (LC has a gas -discharge only near, distant ordinary) and proprietary cladding will not allow you to forget that this is one of the most prestigious, fast and expensive SUVs in the world. The equipment, you yourself understand, in the style of competitors have not yet come up with this. For example, everyone saw the rear view cameras. Now there are cameras that look sideways and forward. This is such an advantage to compensate for the deficiency, which is a continuation of the advantages: the car is so big that the driver is hard to see not only that which is behind, but also that in front of the radiator.
Land Cruiser clearly tried to make more recognizable than radically new. Which, however, is more likely a plus than the minus of the classic does not age. Take a look: the car became more than the predecessor for some centimeters, but this is noticeably emphasized by the shape, got nostrils on the front optics and received the rear door horizontally.
Run the engine with the Start-Stop button where now without it. But on Lexus this is part of the standard configuration, and on the LC 200 option. Outside the window, the desert volcanic landscapes of Fuertever, and goats (these are such animals) are almost more common here than people. Even the symbol of the island is a black goat. Well, at least people on Kruzaki are rising peaceful, otherwise the column of 11 cars would quickly figure it out with the goats. Everything changes gradually in Russia and in the world. Bandits are no longer in fashion in fashion by businessmen (Kommersant). Something is changing and in Kruzer the inner hands of the doors, which ends the armrest, for some reason do not let a medium-sized palm. Probably, the businessman, unlike the bandit, signs the documents more than works with fists and in general the person is sophisticated. He does not need weapons, but a well -armed machine is perhaps. 
Calmness and silence under the hood are working the same gasoline 4.7, however, accelerated to 288 horses. The second version of the diesel is 4.5 liters. He got an improved six -speed box and +10 kilometers to maximum speed. But the diesel engine does not have the main chip of the new generation of Crawl Control. It combines the functions of assistance when descending from the hill and movement to the mountain and has three speeds. The point is that the driver will be able to focus on the steering wheel, not afraid that the car will slip or roll back. This case works on a reduced gear and, in general, copes, despite the tooth rattle of alternately triggering brake mechanisms. The Japanese instructors passed especially complex areas themselves, allowing passengers to contemplate. It climbs and really excellently, at the limit of the laws of physics. 
Well, how do you like the Crawl Control system? Smiling continuously, Japanese engineers asked after passing complex areas. The system is not bad, although most customers will beware of driving a car worth more than 2,000,000 rubles in mud and mountains. But they are ready to pay for such an opportunity. And the system is really impressive both on LX 570 and on LC 200 (when it is). We have already met such a lot, but for the first time we are offered the opportunity to choose one of the three speeds of creeping movement. Enough impressive for the prestigious Lexus and very practical for the Land Cruiser SUV. LX 570 received a 5.7-liter motor and a 6-speed transmission with the possibility of manual control. You can also forcibly turn on the reduced gear and adjust the speed of the CRAWL Control system. As well as regulate the height and stiffness of hydropneumatic suspension. Although, in principle, the AVS and X-AHC systems perfectly cope with such adjustments themselves.
The standard equipment Lexus LX 570 includes that competitors are only planning.
Instead of a non -road mode switch, a kinetic suspension control system (KDSS). She independently (mainly by crossing bridges) determines the congress on the off -road and allows the wheels to be hung. On the highway, no special improvements could feel a heavy car on the road well, but it is scary to let this tank on a mountain serpentine at the limit.
Toyota Land Cruiser 200
Gasoline engine V8
Working volume (cubic cub) 4664
Power (L.S. at rpm) 288 at 5400
Moment (Nm at rpm) 445 at 3400
The drive is complete
Automatic gearbox 5-speed
Length/width/height (mm) 4950/1970/1950
Maximum speed (km/h) 200
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 9.2
Fuel consumption, comb. (l/100 km) 14.4
Price in Moscow (rub.) 2,200,000
Lexus LX 570 Gasoline engine V8
Working volume (cubic cub) 5663
Power (L.S. at about/min) 383 at 5600
Moment (nm at rpm) 547 at 3500
The drive is complete
Automatic gearbox 6-speed
Length/width/height (mm) 4991/1971/1865 (1920)
Maximum speed (km/h) 220
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 7.4
Fuel consumption, comb. (l/100 km) 19.7/13.1
The price in Moscow (rub.) Is not determined
Text: Vasily Reznichenko, Valery Chusov
Photo: Toyota Motor Co.
Source: "Autopilot"
