Post by DaveSmith on Nov 25, 2009 13:34:51 GMT -5
2010 Lexus GX 460, review by Don Sherman of automobilemag.com
As a sign of the times, Lexus is discounting the numeric portion of its mid-size sport ute's name by ten counts, though not at the expense of capability, price, or prestige. To the contrary, the new second-generation GX 460 is slightly quicker and all the more laden with luxury touches. The surname change is attributable to the new V-8's displacement change from 4.7 to 4.6 liters.
While the GX 460 is not part of the headlong market shift to crossovers, it does achieve a couple more miles per gallon in EPA highway and combined ratings. This is the last body-on-frame, live-rear-axle classic SUV in the luxury class, largely because this Lexus shares core components with the lowly Toyota 4Runner, a longstanding member of the ground-pounding (off-road) fraternity.
According to Lexus, the 2010 GX is a clean-sheet design embodying a new body, frame, and powertrain. Unfortunately, customers are leaving this segment in droves. Lexus has its fingers crossed that 56,000 youthful, well-heeled customers will remain behind and that it will be able to snare a quarter of them to sell 14,000 GXs this year. That seems like a stretch to us.
Six years ago, when Automobile blessed the GX 470 with its All-Star award, fuel was cheap, life was great, and a luxurious three-row family hauler was a gratifying ego stroke. Then competitors flooded in, the world economy imploded, and fickle consumers took refuge in smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient conveyances.
READ MORE @ www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/0911_2010_lexus_gx_460/index.html
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As a sign of the times, Lexus is discounting the numeric portion of its mid-size sport ute's name by ten counts, though not at the expense of capability, price, or prestige. To the contrary, the new second-generation GX 460 is slightly quicker and all the more laden with luxury touches. The surname change is attributable to the new V-8's displacement change from 4.7 to 4.6 liters.
While the GX 460 is not part of the headlong market shift to crossovers, it does achieve a couple more miles per gallon in EPA highway and combined ratings. This is the last body-on-frame, live-rear-axle classic SUV in the luxury class, largely because this Lexus shares core components with the lowly Toyota 4Runner, a longstanding member of the ground-pounding (off-road) fraternity.
According to Lexus, the 2010 GX is a clean-sheet design embodying a new body, frame, and powertrain. Unfortunately, customers are leaving this segment in droves. Lexus has its fingers crossed that 56,000 youthful, well-heeled customers will remain behind and that it will be able to snare a quarter of them to sell 14,000 GXs this year. That seems like a stretch to us.
Six years ago, when Automobile blessed the GX 470 with its All-Star award, fuel was cheap, life was great, and a luxurious three-row family hauler was a gratifying ego stroke. Then competitors flooded in, the world economy imploded, and fickle consumers took refuge in smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient conveyances.
READ MORE @ www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/0911_2010_lexus_gx_460/index.html
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