2022 Lexus LX 600 makes on- and off-road travels more luxurious

MANILA: The wait is finally over. An all-new Lexus LX has come after three generations.

The all-new LX 600 is said to be the ultimate sport-utility flagship in the expanding and diversified model portfolio of Lexus, having been completely revamped from the inside out. Lexus’ dedication to fulfill the many demands of customers is embodied in the full-size luxury SUV’s reengineered body-on-frame platform, avant-garde look, and opulent cabin.

The LX has been a luxury SUV icon since its debut in 1995, formed by a personality defined by an indestructible dualism. Its luxurious long-range cruiser status is owed to its pleasant ride quality and long list of comfort features, but its off-road specifications have taken it beyond the tarmac in over 50 countries across the world. Over 500,000 LX units have been sold around the world as of August 2021.

The LX provides unrivaled elegance in its fourth iteration, thanks to a comprehensive optimization of practically every component. It uses a brand-new GA-F platform that is 20% stiffer than before, providing a solid base or its body-on-frame build. The weight is down 441 pounds compared to its predecessor, and body rigidity is improved.

The all-new LX is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo gasoline engine. The new electronically controlled brake (ECB) system and electric power steering (EPS) offer more precise vehicle control in both on-road and off-road scenarios.

A brand-new cabin sits behind the LX’s aluminum doors, built for maximum comfort and usability. Lexus Interface is featured on the instrument panel, along with Lexus’ first dual display configuration. A 12.4-inch upper screen and a seven-inch lower screen help provide a more pleasant driving experience with their variety of views, instrumentation, and control adjustments.

Lexus aims to achieve a balance of athletic performance, accessible functionality, and stunning beauty on the exterior design of the LX, as it did with the all-new NX. Optimized proportions that blend refinement with power and presence are at the heart of LX’s design.

Interacting with a wide range of customers is important to the LX’s ethos. This approach has allowed LX to expand its lineup, which now includes the all-new Ultra Luxury and F Sport variants. The Ultra Luxury is equipped with four independent seats for sumptuous travel comfort on all road conditions, while the F Sport is designed for customers who prefer a sportier look and feel.

Engineers reworked the LX’s fundamental aspects and reduced its center of gravity and weight while increasing body rigidity to ensure a smooth composure and outstanding comfort level according to Lexus Driving signature. Since the all-new LX is lighter, it now delivers a more stable and smooth ride during turning, acceleration, and maneuvers, as well as an improved off-road performance.

The front high-mounted double wishbone suspension, suspension geometry, and tuned coil springs provide exceptional vehicle stability and ride comfort to ensure a high level of off-road driving performance and on-road handling. The suspension stroke is also made long enough to help achieve great on- and off-road performance.

The four-link axle-type suspension with rear lateral control arms is carried over from the previous model, but the suspension arms and shock absorber layout have been enhanced to improve axle movement control, resulting in better vehicle stability and ride comfort. The rebound stroke has been increased by 20 mm to ensure exceptional road-following performing.

The rear shock absorbers are mounted outside of the lower control arm, and the mounting angle of the shock absorbers has been changed to match the axle’s movement. This allows the shock absorbers to follow the vertical movement of the wheels more easily, improving their damping effect and resulting in better absorbing shocks and vibrations from the road surface for better vehicle stability.

The new engine is smaller than the previous naturally aspirated V8 and uses turbocharging to boost power output and torque. The engine churns out a maximum power output of 409hp and maximum torque of 479lb-ft. It maintains maximum torque in a range of up to around 3,600 rpm, making it easier to handle not only on-road but also off-road, where frequent usage of low-speed range is required.

The engine is mated to the DirectShift-10AT that provides a smooth start that only a torque converter can deliver, as well as manual-transmission-like direct acceleration by activating lockup in almost its full range of operation. The cross gear ratio setting, which puts the gear ratios of each stage closer together, and the quick gear shift time result in snappy gear shifting at regular intervals, providing a driving rhythm in sync with the engine sound.

A wide range of gear ratios is used for excellent starting comfort and high-speed driving. The low first gear boosts the driving force when starting at low speeds, resulting in a smooth start and high-powered low-speed off-road performance. The high gearing in the 10^th gear, on the other hand, keeps the engine speed low while driving at high speeds, resulting in a quieter ride and lower fuel usage.

An oil pan guard is mounted on the lower body of the automatic transmission, which is built for off-road performance, to help prevent oil pan damage caused by unintentional hits to the underfloor that may occur when traveling along rough surfaces.

The core dynamic qualities of the LX are improved by the adoption of GA-F platform and a weight reduction. The use of a new active height control (AHC) system and adaptive variable suspension (AVS) helps provide improved grip, traction, and control, as well as a sense of strength and security.

Despite being a frame-based vehicle with the same typical off-road driving capability and vehicle stability as its predecessor, the new LX provides a high level of vehicle control and outstanding on-road ride comfort.

The AHC suspension, which allows the ride height to be modified according to the driving conditions, now has a wider range of ride height options. While shock absorbers, gas and hydraulic springs, and metal springs are still used to control ride height, a spring rate switching device, which was previously only used for the front wheels, is now also employed for the rear wheels, reducing the time required to adjust ride height. There are three height settings while the vehicle is in motion – Normal, Hi1, and Hi2 – as well as a Low setting for passenger ingress and egress.

The system automatically modifies vehicle height depending on whether Drive Mode Select or Multi-Terrain Select is on, as well as the transfer case selection status. The ride height status can now be seen not only on the gauge panel, but also on the seven-inch touch display. AHC also responds to changes in vehicle posture, such as the amount of pitch and roll, and maintains vehicle posture during turning, acceleration, and deceleration by adjusting the spring rate as needed.

When the transfer case is in the L4 range, the suspension automatically switches to Hi1 or Hi2 in accordance with the road condition. When Hi1 or Hi2 is selected, the system adjusts the vehicle height automatically based on the vehicle’s speed to help prevent road surface interference and enhance handling stability.

When traveling through curves, the springs are softened to maintain a smooth and stable ride. When the vehicle is in motion, the height automatically adjusts, and when the vehicle is stopped, the height lowers.

Shifting to a linear solenoid valve system improves the damping force switching response, allowing for precise and smooth modulation of the damping force depending on the road condition. When driving in the city, the damping force can be set low to ensure a smooth ride over bumps, and high to enjoy a flat and constant ride through curves.

Instead of traditional hydraulics, the new EPS uses a motor and a reduction gear. At low end, such as when driving off-road, it allows for subtle and a light steering feel, while at high end, it allows for full steering weightiness. Steering operations are faithfully and linearly responded to by the vehicle. The light steering sensation reduces driver fatigue at low speeds, while a moderate steering force in line with the vehicle’s speed gives a Lexus Driving Signature experience at high speeds.

The 2022 LX features the North America-developed Lexus Interface multimedia system that puts intuitive technology at the occupants' fingertips. The new Human Machine Interface (HMI) on the screen enhances user interaction through sight, touch, and voice, while still addressing accessibility needs.

The Lexus Interface has a new Voice Assistant that was created with a human-centered approach. Occupants will engage with the new multimedia system primarily through the Voice Assistant. The technology, which features twin microphones, speaker location capability, and improved noise-cancellation, allows front-seat occupants to access navigation, media, and other vehicle control settings using a voice-first approach.

With the widespread use of smartphones, Lexus Interface now offers a straightforward and convenient occupant experience. The driver's personalized settings can be saved in the cloud and accessed on the go in other Lexus Interface-equipped vehicles through the User Profile feature. After creating a profile in the Lexus App, users can access it using a Bluetooth handheld device, smart key, or manual login.

The Lexus Interface native navigation system was developed with simplicity and aesthetics in mind. The system enables speedier and more accurate directions and mapping with its 100% cloud capability and integration of Google Points of Interest data. Over-the-air (OTA) updates provide real-time updates for mapping and enriched media experiences. Occupants can also use the native navigation with or without a network connection. Offline mode recognizes when the vehicle is approaching or entering a low-connectivity area and downloads relevant maps and services ahead of time.

The LX also comes standard with Lexus Safety System + 2.5, providing a suite of active safety features. For starters, the pre-collision system (PCS), which includes frontal collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection, and bicyclist detection, has been upgraded to increase the response range of the lens camera and millimeter-wave radar elements. The system can now detect not only the car ahead, but also preceding bicyclist and pedestrian in daytime and low-light conditions. At intersections, the system is designed to detect an approaching vehicle while making a left-hand turn, or a pedestrian when making both left and right-hand turns, under particular conditions. Another PCS feature is the emergency steering assist (ESA), which is designed to assist steering within the vehicle’s lane as prompted by the driver.

Another Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 feature is the lane departure alert with steering assist (LDA w/ SA), a system that uses steering wheel vibrations or an audible alert to notify the driver if it detects an unintended lane departure at speeds above 32 mph. It can also make minor adjustments to help the driver stay in the visibly marked lane.

Other Lexus Safety System + 2.5 features include all-speed dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC), lane tracing assist (LTA), intelligent high beams, and road sign assist (RSA).

Photos from Lexus

Also read: All-new Lexus NX arrives with hybrid, turbo power