2016 Lexus LX 570 And GS Unveil Their Corporate Facelifts In Pebble Beach
It’s been four years since Lexus last refreshed its aging full-size flagship SUV, the LX 570, and its GS sedan line also wears the previous generation of softer, less angular Lexus sheet metal. What better place to reveal a serious facelift than in Monterey Car Week at Pebble Beach?
The biggest change comes to the LX 570. New LED headlights and a sharper, more aggressive grille, new 20-inch wheels, a new bumper and tail lights, and the addition of two new colors (Atomic Silver and Nightfall Mica) give the SUV a beefier, fresher look. Lexus is also including a new panoramic roof-view camera as standard, which allows views of the surrounding terrain should you decide to take yours off-road—or offers views of the corners of the SUV when maneuvering into a tight space at the mall. The park assist system that was optional on the previous model now comes standard along with Lexus’ answer to the smart key—a SmartAccess key card that fits in a wallet.
The engine in the new LX 570 remains the same as the previous generation, with the 5.7 liter V8 still producing 383 hp and 403 lb ft of torque. Lexus says that the SUV will do 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, a scant two-tenths of a second faster than the previous generation. The new SUV also gets a slightly better fuel economy, up 1 mpg to 15 mpg combined, thanks to a new eight-speed transmission.
Inside, the LX 570 gets a new, larger 12.3-inch touch-screen navigation system, new wood trim options including matte wood finishes, a new aluminum ingot analog clock that updates its time based on GPS location, four-zone climate control, and a slightly roomier middle row. Buyers can also choose to outfit their 2016 LX 570 with a mini-refrigerator in the center console, heated and cooled middle row seats, and an optional larger 11.6-inch entertainment screen set for rear passengers.
With all the additional standard features for 2016, Lexus says you can expect a price increase over the current LX’s $83,000 and change sticker, though final pricing hasn’t been announced. The 2016 LX 570 goes on sale in October.
Meanwhile, the transformation of the GS line includes performance upgrades and a new rear-wheel drive model, the GS 200t.
The GS 200t adds to the already robust GS model line that includes the GS 350, the GS 450h, and the sportier GS F that debuted at the Detroit auto show this year. The GS 200t comes with the 2-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine that puts out 241 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Lexus says it will get an estimated fuel economy rating of 33 mpg on the highway.
The GS 350 gets a horsepower and torque boost, with its 3.5-liter V-6 up to 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, and eight-speed automatic. The hybrid GS 450h model doesn’t get any change to its performance or mpg ratings for the 2016 model year, but still gets the upgraded looks. All three of the GS models will come in an available F-Sport line which offers a sportier tuned chassis and looks, as well as available dynamic handling, and rear-steering packages.
Inside, the new GS gets new trims and leather colors, including a matte wood option, a “linear 3D” selection, and in the F Sport model, a new aluminum trim. Like the LX 570 unveiled at the same event, the GS gets the same GPS-updating analog clock surrounded by aluminum in the dash. It also gets the same suite of safety features as the new LX 570, which includes adaptive cruise control that utilizes radar and cameras to follow traffic ahead, pre-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning.
The new GS line goes on sale in October, and pricing has not been announced.
