Lexus LX600 (VJA310W)

First launched in Japan in the fall of 2015, the Lexus LX is a monstrously-sized SUV catered for those who think their Toyota Land Cruiser is not enough. Although it has more power and luxury compared to its Land Cruiser brother, it struggled to catch up because of the bourgeois price tag and sizing that is worth a challenge on Japanese roads. With the arrival of the all-new LX, looks like owners of last year's Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series are in for a bittersweet moment...

2023 Lexus LX

Priced at an ultra-expensive 12.5 million Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the all-new Lexus LX is prepared to steal the Toyota Land Cruiser 300's spotlight by any means necessary, although it's still as premium and capable as its Land Cruiser 300 brother, with some added touches that will bring tears of shame to those who have owned a Land Cruiser 300.

2023 Lexus LX

Beginning with the design, the all-new LX is something to be called bourgeois probably because of its added size that will be challenging to live with Japanese and European motoring conditions but mostly because of the massive front grille that will embarrass even the most bourgeois-looking BMWs of today. Speedo boys truly dislike cars with massive grilles because of being pointless and silly but this is the new normal, ladies and gentlemen. Although the front face is revolting, the LX is the second Lexus to ditch the logo at the back in favor of the LEXUS lettering first seen in the second-generation NX crossover as part of the brand's next design chapter.

2023 Lexus LX

Checking on the interior, the all-new LX now boasts two monitors on the dashboard, a first for a Lexus vehicle. The top is a touch screen that works, unlike the previous model where you will only use the Remote Touch to select various modes, which the new model no longer possesses. The bottom screen, meanwhile, is where it displays climate control and driving-related information. There's so much to toy around with the dashboard but the great Achilles Heel of the new interior is the new fingerprint recognition on the engine switch. While it was made to combat a bad case of GTA, the implementation of fingerprint recognition is like the one account per person rule. It's a lot difficult setting up a new one in the case when your original account's in trouble, but anyway, long story short.

In addition to having five or seven seats, the all-new LX features a four-seater variant for the first time under the EXECUTIVE tagline. The LX600 EXECUTIVE features two larger rear seats with extra legroom, special climate control features, a multi-function rear console, and extended legroom with an ottoman for when you want to relax. Something that Boss Madam is more than happy to have. Whichever LX you choose, they're more spacious than their predecessor as expected.

Just like the new Toyota Land Cruiser, the glorious V8 engine of its predecessor has been thrown away and replaced by a more polar bear-friendly V35A-FTS V6 3.5L Twin Turbo engine that produces 415PS of power and 305NM of torque. Mated to a Direct Shift 10AT, it delivers up to 8.1kmpl of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode Standards. Slightly more than the Land Cruiser.

Thanks to its GA-F platform, lightweight and rigid bodywork, front double wishbones, rear four-link rigid axle, Active Height Control, Adaptive Variable Suspension, all-wheel-drive, Electric Power Steering, Electronically Controlled Brake system, and many other improvements, not to mention offroad-handy features such as Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select, the new LX feels livelier and more capable than the previous model, although its spartan driving manners fit for a heavyweight offroader lingers on. It almost feels like an American offroader in various ways, but with the OFFROAD variant with a specially-made differential, the new LX feels like it's ready to take on the elements in style and command. Weekends at Hannibal's, anyone?

Being a high-value luxury offroader made in Japan, the all-new LX features Lexus Safety System+, an improved suite of safety features such as Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, BladeScan, and more.

Being the most premium and capable Japanese luxury offroader ever built, the all-new Lexus LX is more than ready to take on the new normal with its commanding presence, luxurious interior, turbocharged V6 engine, and an arsenal of gadgetry. Those who had the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 will be sorry because the LX features everything that its Toyota equivalent doesn't have and those who haven't been feeling jelly, wishing they would like to have a taste of the new LX someday. Whatever the reason, the ultimate luxury offroader has finally arrived and it's time to roll down the red carpet for the new model.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Lexus LX (URJ201W)

When the Lexus LX first emerged in the USA in the 90's, it was nothing more of a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser 80 with some slight differences whatsoever until it became known as the Land Cruiser Cygnus, a Toyota Land Cruiser with Aristo-esque headlamps that went on sale on Japan from 1999 to 2007. With the arrival of Lexus to the Japanese market in 2005 and the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 two years later, the Cygnus was vanished from the lineup and Toyota can't bring the newer Lexus LX, which is essentially a Land Cruiser 200 with a bigger engine output, to the Japanese market for numerous reasons. However, this year, everything's changed because while in the process of celebrating Lexus' 10th anniversary to the Japanese market and with Toyota's Land Cruiser 200 recently given a facelift, this new Lexus LX has finally arrived to the Japanese market for the very first time.

2016 Lexus LX

This is not a joke. What you're looking at is the real deal because while this updated version recently unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, looks like Japan will be the first to get the latest model by next month at a wallet-slaying 11,000,000 Yen. Almost  four million more than the high-spec Toyota Land Cruiser 200! So, what do you get at this luxo-barge of a mammoth?

2016 Lexus LX interior

Being a Lexus, the LX features a more strikingly aggressive body design, a well-trimmed interior, Lexus' signature Remote Touch, new Lexus Climate Concierge system which handles the room temperature, available Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System, seating for eight people, dual monitor rear entertainment system, high-tech features, and lots of other stuff that makes the LX a Land Cruiser 200 fit for sheikhs and politicians alike.

It even comes with a brand new safety packaging called the Lexus Safety System +,which works like the Land Cruiser's new Toyota Safety Sense P. The Lexus Safety System + features a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection Function, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam, and Radar Cruise Control. This new kind of safety package is aimed at promoting the uptake of safety tech and it will be implemented on future models until the end of 2017. Remember, this new Lexus LX is the first to implement such safety tech. Quite clever, I dare say?

2016 Lexus LX

2016 Lexus LX

Now it's time to take a look at the performance of the first-ever LX and while it has the same off-road capability as the Land Cruiser 200, what's under the hood is not what it seems to be in the eyes of an average Japanese offroad enthusiast. This engine, a 3UR-FE 5.7L V8 engine, is the biggest engine offered to the Japanese market and while this nation still bracing more on eco-cars, looks like the bigger behemoths are still lurking around. Anyway, this V8 engine develops 377PS of power output, 534Nm of torque, and fuel consumption of a disappointing 6.5km/L. As for the gearbox, the LX comes as standard with an 8-speed Super ECT.

Because the LX was suitable for the rough terrain it traverses as well as city driving, it's been given lots of driving tech such as Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Turn Assist, Active Traction Control for better grip on slippery surfaces, Hill-Start Assist Control, VGRS, Drive Mode Select and the 4 Wheel Active Height Control Suspension and Active Variable Suspension, which allows the driver to set it lower or higher, depending on the road conditions. For a more car-like feel should go for the low mode while for offroad capability should go for the high mode. Again, that's clever stuff I dare say.

With the Lexus LX finally available in Japan for the very first time, looks like some Japanese offroad enthusiasts have been given a choice between this or the recently facelifted Land Cruiser 200 but because the LX is more expensive than the Land Cruiser, some might better off with the LC200 instead but in terms of overall luxury, the LX has a more executive touch than any other luxury Japanese cars offered. What you're looking for, ladies and gentlemen, is a first-class RV fit for a politician or shiekhs alike. Although the design looks more repelling than attracting, it still has the gizmos that make others think like they're working for Japanese intelligence.

Available Colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Mercury Grey Mica, Sonic Titanium, Black, Starlight Black Glass Flake, Sleek Ecru Metallic, and Deep Blue Mica.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (URJ202W) 2016 Facelift

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

Sheiks of the world, rejoice. It's the new Land Cruiser...well, sorta. Anyway, this is the second time Toyota's full-size SUV, popular among the oil kings and the sheiks of the desert regions, has been given a facelift but the latest facelift has more treats in store so let's dig in.

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser interior

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser interior

For the 2016 facelift, the Land Cruiser 200's exterior has been modestly revised with a new front design as well as a mildly refreshed rear view that keeps this flagship SUV updated for big things to come but some might react that the new design might look unpleasant for a normal driver but at least that's how big SUVs are made of. The design has to be big, chunky, and unpleasant to the eyes of ordinary drivers because having one of these is like you're in charge of the hacienda or a town or whatever you're ruling at. The interior's heavily revised as well with new paneling, a new instrumental panel, a new steering wheel, a dual-screen rear entertainment system, a media player that plays CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays, an HDMI port, available Toyota Premium Sound System, and of course, integrated with Toyota's T-Connect telematics service. Even though this eight-seater SUV is made with rich and powerful playboys in mind, it's still usable as a family car and seating arrangements are still on the LC200's list. Just think of the lifestyles people would do if they had one of these.

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

Because all Land Cruisers are made to tackle the rough terrains drivers are traversing with, the Land Cruiser 200 comes with the Multi-Terrain Select with five different modes based on terrain responses such as ROCK, ROCK & DIRT, MOGUL, LOOSE ROCK, and MUD & SAND. It even features Crawl Control, Variable Gear Ratio Steering, Active Height Control Suspension with an Adaptive Variable Suspension System, and the most basic feature of them all is KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System). The Multi-Terrain Monitor has been updated so it now comes with an Under Floor View and a Front View Rotation Display along with many other views suitable to check its offroad situations. You may now check what's going on if you ran into something muddy or whatever.

It's still powered by the 1UR-FE (4.6L V8) engine that produces 318PS of power and 460Nm of torque. With its Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) and 6-speed Super ECT, it is capable of achieving a fuel economy of 6.9km/L based on Japan's JC08 Test Cycle.

For the 2016 Land Cruiser, Toyota introduced the new Toyota Safety Sense P and because this is an all-new safety tech, it might be best to talk about this one. The Toyota Safety Sense P features a more high-tech millimeter-wave radar that detects pedestrians and vehicles alike. If it senses a potential collision with pedestrians, it will slow down by 30kph. With cars, the speed reduction goes up to 40kph. It even comes with Radar Cruise Control which detects preceding vehicles and determines their speed. It will adjust its speed accordingly to maintain a safe distance between the cars. There are many other safety techs featured in the new Toyota Safety Sense P but it's best to leave it for a while.

The 2016 Land Cruiser is available in ZX, AX, AX G Selection, and GX trim models and prices start from 4,728,437 to 6,825,600 Japanese Yen.

Available Colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Metallic, Black, Attitude Black Mica, Dark Red Mica Metallic, Copper Brown Mica, Beige Mica Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (URJ202W) Facelift

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser interior

The Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (URJ202W) is the only V8-powered full-size SUV made in Japan. It was having a good time pummeling against rivals such as Mitsubishi Pajero and the Range Rover. You can see them commonly in the Middle East but it is rarely seen in the streets of Los Angeles, Manila, or even Tokyo. Sadly though it's not available in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia because of the ASEAN-built Fortuner takes place.

This generation was been there for four years since its debut in late 2007 but for the 2013 model year, the Toyota LC200 deserved its mid-life facelift to keep it fresh for the only V8-powered SUV made in Japan. So for the exterior details, you should expect a new headlamp design, a new front bumper, new rims, and a new rear design. That should make it perfect to keep it more muscular for this flagship model.

Once again, the interior design looks the same as the previous model. It still features a choice of 5-seater and 7-seater, climate control, heated seats, available G-BOOK mX Pro HDD Navigation System, Toyota Premium Sound System with 18-speakers, rear-seat entertainment system, USB Connectivity, and a new "Shell" interior color. Guess that they've been running out of ideas but this interior is all about "Business Class" comfort. So, it was like you're on a business trip to the Middle East and going around for some Arab money. Well, knock yourself out...

The Toyota Land Cruiser 200 is powered by the 1UR-FE (4.6L V8) engine that produces 318PS of power and 460Nm of torque. With its Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) and 6-speed Super ECT, it is capable of achieving a fuel economy of 6.9km/L based on Japan's JC08 Test Cycle. The Multi-Terrain Select allows the user to take advantage of five different modes based on terrain responses such as ROCK, ROCK & DIRT, MOGUL, LOOSE ROCK, and MUD & SAND. It even features Crawl Control, Variable Gear Ratio Steering, Active Height Control Suspension with Adaptive Variable Suspension System, and the most basic feature of them all is KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System).

Available colors are White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Black, Attitude Black Mica, Dark Red Mica Metallic, and Beige Mica Metallic.

My comment:
Keeping the LC200 updated is just one of the reasons why they want to keep the legendary Land Cruiser despite the tough times caused by the March 11 disaster, the European Debt Crisis, and the Thai Floods. Now if we could only hope for is sit down and wait for it to decide its fate.

Sales for this facelifted model start this January 6, 2012, and it will come soon in the Middle East and in the USA. Now, if we could hope is to wait for Toyota Motor Philippines to bring the facelifted LC200 soon or wait for some sneaky gray market importers, especially Auto Trend, to have one, especially if this one's a Dubai Version...

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation.