Lexus LX570 is all very lux

Sprezzatura is an Italian word that means to disguise efforts naturally when performing an art. Author Seth Godin describes it as a combination of elan, grace and class while performing your art in such a way that the efforts of the artist seem minimal to the beholder. The artist almost melds into the background.

The reason I mention the term sprezzatura is because I feel it applies perfectly to the world of motoring. Car-making is an art.

Getting all the right things together with carefully selected components from a sea of variables is what makes it artistic. It’s probably not a coincidence that the aforementioned word’s country of origin is the same as that of the Ferrari and the Lamborghini, to name a few.

To me, the art of carmaking is defined as perfect only when it caters to its target audience to provide the right kind of feel and a driving experience that is expected of its class. This can, therefore, apply across segments and is not restricted to exotic or super cars.

A small segment carmaker demonstrates sprezzatura when it makes a product that caters to its fans and offers them features that they expect from it such as fuel efficiency, great looks, affordability and handling. It’s factors like these that make a model or brand rise in a customer’s esteem and subsequently generate large a fan following. In the world of motorcycles, Harley Davidson does all of the above and has a following that it seems to generate effortlessly.

I firmly believe that the Japanese reinvented the art of carmaking. Brands like Toyota have managed to get to where they are today simply because their contributions to the customer have been worthy of mention and brand loyalty.

To the average car buyer, an automobile is a masterpiece if it fits his requirements perfectly. This is what the Japanese gave average car buyers across the world who were seeking affordability and reliability. When customers began to seek more luxury and finesse Toyota decided to launch the Lexus.

Lexus changed a lot of things in the motoring world in terms of the luxury segment. They offered luxury on an existing platform of great engineering and reliability. It was just the icing on the cake. It came at a time when the focus of its overseas competitors was on the icing instead of the cake. And the most important ingredient in a cake from the motoring industry viewpoint has got to be reliability.

This is what most car manufacturers took many decades to figure out and implement because it meant defying the status quo, which required sticking to older proven models instead of continuous change and improvement.

The 2011 Lexus LX570 that I test-drove for a few days reaffirmed my impression of the brand. There aren’t any noticeable changes from the 2010 model, except for a few details on the exterior and better colour options for the interiors.

The engine remains the same – a 5.7 litre V8 producing a maximum 362 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 540Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm. These aren’t bad figures at all, but considering its closest competitor, it does seem a little underpowered for its league.

The output figures and the Lexus’s large SUV platform which is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser makes it quite a good choice as an off-road vehicle as well.

However, the luxury options and the low skirting all around the vehicle keep it restricted to use on tarmac unless modified for better clearance. Despite its off-road capabilities, I must say that LX owners tend to keep their vehicles on the road to use them as luxury vehicles.

On tarmac, the Lexus is smooth as silk. There really isn’t much of a difference between the LS460L sedan and the LX570 in terms of road comfort. The only difference is the stance that the LX570 imposes on the road which makes it hard to avoid.

The suspension is variable and can be adjusted between Sport and Comfort, although I couldn’t find much of a difference except while taking sharp turns where the Sport mode tends to keep the ride a bit stiffer than usual.

Over the few days of test-driving, I found that it was best to leave it in the Comfort mode for most uses. Other features include active height control, hill descent assistance and crawl control, all of which seem a bit excessive for a luxury car that most of us wouldn’t really take off-road.

The most important aspect to consider is the stability and traction control system which makes large powerful SUVs like these a lot safer on the roads and I must say these systems work well in the LX570, making it stable in all road conditions.

The LX570’s multi-terrain ABS system is a nice touch, but I doubt that it is going to be of any use in the desert where the logic used to program the system really doesn’t apply due to the ever-changing nature of the surface. It is quite useful on gravel or slippery roads when combined with the traction system.

Besides its large size and mechanical abilities, it also comes with an array of gadgets and features that justify its price tag of Dh359,000.

The entertainment system, as in all Lexus models, is by Mark Levinson and comes with 19 speakers and a broad range of external device connectivity including iPod interface which can be controlled on the dashboard multimedia screen or on the steering wheel.

To summarise, I would say that the Lexus is a good choice for those who like large SUVs laden with the latest in gadgetry and comfort features.

The strength of the LX570 lies in its ability to offer the best of both worlds – off-road utility and functionality – in every possible way. So if its luxury, safety and comfort that you’re looking for combined with reliability and a bit of off-road prowess, then this definitely needs to be part of the short-list.

Insight

Al Futtaim now offers a 5-year warranty on the LX. The LX 570 has a sports edition in addition to existing three variants.

Inside info

Lexus LX570 spells luxury plusgreat engineering and reliability
Engine: 5.7 litre V8 producing a max of 362hp at 5,600 rpm

Philip Shane is a Dubai-based freelancer