Lexus LX: 3rd Generation

I had a real laugh when I stumbled on this Lexus LX 570 print ad (click for a larger version):

With a maximum towing capacity of 8,500lbs, I guess this might even be possible...

[Via: Ads of the World]

While on the topic of the Lexus LX 570, check out this super-impressive Youtube clip of the luxury-tank scaling a sand mountain:

Zero to small-white-speck in less than 10 seconds.

MyRide managed to snag one of the incredibly rare Lexus LX 570's just long enough to film this video review:

A nice overview, to be sure. I've grown into a huge fan of the new look LX. More than anything, the absolute cocoon it provides is a significant upgrade, it's more like a luxury tank than an SUV.

When you consider the climbing cost of gas in the USA (and everywhere else!), the dramatic increase in Lexus LX 570 sales has raised some eyebrows, including the Wall Street Journal, who went so far as to interview a new owner:

Karen Bean of Albany, N.Y., says she bought a Lexus LX 570 earlier this year because she likes how it looks, drives and accommodates her tall family. Having a comfortable, attractive interior and a vehicle that she enjoys driving is important enough that she is willing to accept the fuel expense. She can afford it, she says. Ms. Bean thinks that buyers of higher-end SUVs haven't altered their spending habits, despite a sluggish economy and high gas prices. "If you're buying an $80K+ car, you better be able to afford the gas that goes in it," she says.

As the article notes, even with a 150+% increase in sales, the LX has only moved 3,547 so far this year. Combine that with the fact the model has just been redesigned, and the numbers don't really seem that out-of-step.

The newly designed LX 570 is selling very well in the US. Since its introduction in January, it's been selling an average of 680 units per month. In fact, Kicking Tires has reported that there's currently only a four-day supply in inventory:

...if you want to order one today, you may have to wait up to 90 days to get one in the color you want with the options you want.

"There's only a four-days supply of LX 570s in dealer inventory nationwide," Lexus spokesman Greg Tomei said. A 60-day supply is considered normal. “We don't give the number out, but from the time it reaches the lot until it leaves the lot, the LX 570 has the quickest turn rate of any vehicle in our lineup."

Tomei said the sales forecast for the LX 570 is 9,500 units a year, and there are no plans to boost production in order to build dealer inventory. That's also about how many Range Rover SUVs that Land Rover sells.

Keep in mind this isn't due to a vehicle shortage, but a controlled inventory to avoid excess units. Also, I would expect most people buying an SUV in this price range would be looking for some specific options and colors, so having the LX 570 on dealership lots doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Mother Proof, a site that reviews cars from a mother's point of view, has posted a review of the Lexus LX 570:

The sheer number of buttons that greeted me on that first drive was also a bit overwhelming; I thought I might need pilot training just to get it home. I was sorely disappointed to find that not one of the switches inside was capable of brewing my morning latte.

Once the initial aesthetic command and control shock wore off, I came to enjoy almost everything about the Lexus LX 570. Things I’ll miss most are the climate-controlled seats, front and side-view cameras and the automatic-folding third-row seats. The heated and cooled seats came in handy when we had 80-degree weather one day and a spring snowstorm the next. The front-mounted camera took a little getting used to, but it made me feel quite spy-like when I was able to easily park this rig in a tiny spot at the mall.

I enjoy these functional kinds of reviews, with very little to no focus on engine-size/0-60 times, they're a nice foil to the more technical breakdowns. The slice-of-life perspective is refreshing.