Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbours Lexus

If you’ve noticed Toyota Land Cruiser Prado owners looking a little sad of late, here’s why: the new Lexus GX 550 has arrived in SA. And it’s same-same – but also, very different.

WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Supplied

What you’re looking at here is the most anticipated Lexus yet to come to South Africa. Why? Four reasons: 1. We love a 4 x 4 down here; 2. We especially love a Toyota 4 x 4; 3. We even more especially love it if the words “Land Cruiser” appear next to the Toyota name plate; and 4. We really love a powerful engine.

What does all this have to do with the Lexus GX 550? Well, Lexus is the luxury arm of the Toyota colossus, so this car can basically be described as a very fancy Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, with a bigger engine under that sculpted bonnet. Which makes this Lexus total catnip to South African SUV lovers. In fact, all 400 of our allocated units were immediately sold.

Of course, the characteristic that really interests us at VISI is not so much the GX’s rugged off -road capabilities or bigger engine, but rather its design. And, from that perspective, what makes it the most interesting is how Lexus has morphed the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado’s retro-inspired aesthetic into a big, and rather beautiful, slab of Brutalist architecture on wheels.

Exterior

Both the Land Cruiser and the GX share the same robust GA-F global architecture platform with its tough- as-nails body-on-frame construction – and you can definitely see similarities in the overall silhouette and the rear shoulder line. The point of difference comes in with the nose and rear treatment, where the Lexus crew have applied the brand’s “Next Chapter” design principles, specifically adapted to suit the demands of off-road driving. The iconic Lexus spindle grille is now an integral part of the vehicle’s shape, fl owing into the bodywork and creating a more unified look, while the muscular wheel arches accentuate the large alloys, enhancing the vehicle’s stance and conveying a sense of power. Pulled-back front pillars, a lengthened hood and short rear overhangs add to this experience of power and agility.

Visually, it’s a great balance between rugged, functional boxiness and refi ned luxury, which is most evident in the SE derivative, with its seven-seat configuration, auto-retractable side-step rails and 20-inch alloys. You also get the more off-road-focused Overtrail version with all-terrain tyres, 20mm wider tread, and reinforced under-protector.

Interior

The interior offers a lovely duality to the SUV’s design character: complementing the rugged, capable exterior are luxe interior elements imbued with that unmistakable Lexus sense of craft and refinement. Take a step up onto that retractable side-step, and you’ll soon find yourself in the latest model to adopt Lexus’s human-centred design approach to automotive interiors.

They call it Tazuna, and it involves creating a driver’s cockpit in which all principal controls and information sources are positioned for use within just the smallest movement of the hand or the eye. The inspiration is the ease with which a rider controls a horse with the slightest adjustments of the reins – which is what “Tazuna” means in Japanese. The horizontal instrument panel and lower beltline give the driver a good all-round sense of the vehicle’s attitude and position on the road at all times, while the prominent 14-inch touchscreen display provides clear, swift access to multimedia functions. It’s a comfy environment too, with the driver’s seat designed for optimum support around the waist and pelvis, and cushioning sculpted to keep the spine and head stable.

The power

I know we’re all about design, but we have to at least mention the engine – mostly because there’s little doubt regarding Toyota Land Cruiser Prado owners’ jealousy on this front. As opposed to the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that the Land Cruiser Prado shares with the Hilux bakkie (150kW/500Nm), the GX features a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6, producing 260kW and a healthy 650Nm of torque. Paired with a 10-speed auto gearbox, it’ll provide all the power you’ll need, whether you’re on tar, gravel, or more challenging off -road terrain.

So many, many reasons to covet this Lexus… | lexus.co.za

Pricing

Lexus GX 550 Overtrail 3.5T: R1 766 000 | Lexus GX 550 Overtrail 3.5T Bi-Tone: R1 776 200 | Lexus GX 550 SE 3.5T: R1 829 000

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