BMW is expected to bring a full-size premium
SUV to market next year, said to be dubbed X7, while Audi's Q7, based off of the Volkswagen Touareg/Porsche Cayenne architecture, will arrive to market shortly.
It should be mentioned, though, that Volkswagen's Touareg comes extremely close to offering the same high level of refinement and luxury as the Lexus for a much lower price, while Land Rover's new LR3, Volvo's XC90 V8, Infiniti's QX56, Cadillac's Escalade and Lincoln's Navigator also deliver luxurious off-road capability for substantial savings.
It should also be noted that Lexus' own GX 470 is sized and priced similarly
to some of the lower priced European entries, and unless something as large as the LX is needed, delivers the same level of luxury, equal off-road capability and arguably better, more updated styling.
Truly, it would be a stretch to say that the LX incorporates classic styling cues, with only Mercedes-Benz's boxy G-Class dating further back on the SUV timeline. Yet, ironically, the G-wagon is so old that it's actually cool again, where the LX just looks passé. No doubt Lexus will update it when Toyota revises its long-wheelbase Land Cruiser, but who knows when that will be. Mercedes will have an all-new G500, G55 AMG, and the like, available long before this occurs, making the LX even less appealing to well-off adventurers.
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| While it only seems as if Lexus has changed the lenses of its new 2006 LX 470, in actuality they incorporate new LED technology. (Photo: Lexus Canada) |
It should be mentioned, though, that Volkswagen's Touareg comes extremely close to offering the same high level of refinement and luxury as the Lexus for a much lower price, while Land Rover's new LR3, Volvo's XC90 V8, Infiniti's QX56, Cadillac's Escalade and Lincoln's Navigator also deliver luxurious off-road capability for substantial savings.
It should also be noted that Lexus' own GX 470 is sized and priced similarly
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| The 2006 LX also gets new alloy wheels, another subtle difference when compared to the 2005 model. (Lexus Canada) |
Truly, it would be a stretch to say that the LX incorporates classic styling cues, with only Mercedes-Benz's boxy G-Class dating further back on the SUV timeline. Yet, ironically, the G-wagon is so old that it's actually cool again, where the LX just looks passé. No doubt Lexus will update it when Toyota revises its long-wheelbase Land Cruiser, but who knows when that will be. Mercedes will have an all-new G500, G55 AMG, and the like, available long before this occurs, making the LX even less appealing to well-off adventurers.