2003 Lexus GX470

[Thai]

ConsumerGuide Review

For
Build quality, Passenger and cargo room, Ride

Against
Fuel economy, Handling

Highlights for 2003

Lexus adds a third SUV to plug the gap between its car-based RX 300 and truck-type LX 470. The GX 470 shares a new body-on-frame design with the redesigned 2003 4Runner from parent company Toyota. Its V8 and 5-speed automatic transmission are also found in the 4Runner as well as the '03 LX 470. So is the standard all-wheel drive system with low-range gearing and hill descent control, which automatically applies the brakes to limit speed down steep grades. Also included is hill ascent control, which holds the vehicle in place on an incline for 5 seconds. Among other standard features are 17-inch wheels, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes with full-power assist, and antiskid/traction-control system. The GX 470 has front torso side airbags, plus curtain side airbags for the first two seating rows. Also included are self-leveling rear air suspension, height-adjustable suspension, and automatic shock-absorber control within four driver-selected modes. Standard amenities include leather upholstery and heated front seats, sunroof, automatic climate control, in-dash CD changer, driver-seat memory, and lighted running boards. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard.

Unlike 4Runner, the GX 470 offers a 3rd-row bench seat for up to 8-passenger capacity, same as the LX. The GX has a swing-open tailgate with fixed glass vs. 4Runner's liftgate with power opening window. GX options include a navigation system, premium Mark Levinson audio, rear air conditioning, and a rear DVD entertainment system. Towing capacity is 5000 lb, or 6500 with the optional trailering package.

Competition Luxury SUVs vary in size and type, including former members of both the Full-size and Midsize SUV classes, along with a few all-new models. All offer higher standards of workmanship, comfort, refinement, and pricing than other SUVs.

Our Best Buys are Acura MDX and Toyota Land Cruiser. Both are extremely capable on-road and offer roomy interiors that feature quality workmanship and materials. MDX gets slightly better fuel economy and is more reasonably priced. Land Cruiser offers a V8 engine, rugged body-on-frame chassis, and true off-road ability.

Though rugged and trucky, the Recommended Mercedes-Benz M-Class is spacious, offers a variety of model and engine choices, and numerous safety features. If you don't venture too far off-road, take a look at the car-based Lexus RX 300. Recommended based on price, refinement, and luxury appointments.

News The GX 470 has just arrived, so there's no news about what may lie ahead. We think the newest Lexus SUV should have no trouble meeting its announced U.S. sales target of 20,000 units a year, if only because that figure seems suspiciously modest.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

New information about GX470 on LEXUS.COM.

http://www.lexus.com/gx_adventure/

All info here:

http://www.lexus.com/showroom/model/gx.html

Thanks.

 

[Thai]

Exterior Pics from LEXUS.COM

 

[Thai]

Interior Pics from LEXUS.COM

 

[Thai]

2003 Lexus GX 470
A midsize, full-lux sure thing
By autoMedia.com

Styling

When it comes to playing new-product poker, few have been able to match the enviable record established by the folks at Lexus. For 2003, they've raised the ante on the SUV side of their game with this slick little number, the GX 470. Scaled and priced to fit comfortably between the existing RX 300 and LX 470, it neatly fills an inside straight--and makes Lexus the first luxury marque to offer three different flavors of upline sport-utility vehicles as part of its portfolio.

The GX 470 leans more toward its bigger brother in both visual and mechanical makeup, but despite sharing common powertrain elements, the midsize-plus GX 470 boasts its own completely unique sheetmetal. Beneath its distinctive wrapper lies a full-perimeter frame, which features hydroformed side rails linked by nine crossmembers that give the GX 470 exceptional strength. With a 109.8-inch wheelbase, 62.2-inch front/rear track and 8.3-inch ground clearance, it also feels reassuringly solid and capable, whether on or off road.

Performance

Sole motivator for the GX 470 is the sophisticated and smooth 4.7-liter DOHC V8, which produces 235 horsepower and a healthy 320 lb.-ft. of torque. More importantly, 80 percent of that twist is on call from a mere 1,100 rpm. Low-end leverage of that sort works wonders when it comes to mitigating motoring stress, whether you're running stoplight-to-stoplight in town, negotiating challenging freeway on-ramps, or heading to a mountain hideaway towing up to a 6,500-pound trailer (delayed availability). Backing this engine is an electronically controlled five-speed autoshifter complete with a dual-range transfer case. High range or Low, power gets shipped to all four wheels via a TORSEN

 

[Thai]

Holy Shit!! 2003 FourWheeler of the Year!

http://www.lexus.com/images/showroom/model/promos/gx_20021118.gif

Lexus Announces Prices On Award-Winning 2003 GX 470 At South Florida International Auto Show

November 8, 2002 -- Miami, FL -- The all-new Lexus GX 470 luxury utility vehicle was named the "2003 Four Wheeler of the Year" by the editors of Four Wheeler Magazine today at the South Florida International Auto Show in Miami. Also announced were prices for the GX. Lexus will be the only full-line luxury make to offer three distinct luxury utility vehicles when the GX 470 goes on sale early next month.

Delivered annually since 1974, the "Four Wheeler of the Year" award has become a prestigious honor that is cherished by manufacturers. The GX bested seven other four-wheel-drive machines for the title. "The Lexus GX 470 exhibited surprising ability and balance," commented Jon Thompson, editor of Four Wheeler magazine. "The GX 470's engineers endowed the GX with the abilities to tackle the toughest trails while retaining a serene and secure highway ride.

The all-new, V8-powered, 235 horsepower GX 470 joins an already diverse Lexus luxury utility vehicle lineup. Positioned between the car-based Lexus RX 300 and the brand's premium luxury LX 470, the versatile GX combines the appointments and workmanship of a Lexus sedan with innovative full-time four-wheel drive and off-road management systems and an arsenal of dynamic handling technologies.

Built exclusively at the award-winning Tahara plant in Japan, this new luxury utility vehicle accommodates eight passengers and offers the latest in Lexus safety technology.

Some of the standard features on the all-new GX include:
* Driver's and Front Passenger's Airbags and Side Impact Airbags
* Front and Rear Side Curtain Airbags (1st and 2nd rows only)
* Torsen limited slip differential
* Vehicle Skid Control (VSC)
* Downhill Assist Control (DAC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
* Active Traction Control (TRAC)
* Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS)
* Adjustable Height Control
* Wood and Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel and Shift Knob
* Heated Front Seats with Variable Heat Setting
* Variable Intermittent Rain-Sensing Front Windshield Wipers
* Automatic Dual-Zone Climate Control with Air Filtration System
* Homelink

 

[Thai]

New Car Testdrive.com Review

NCTD.com Review
(There are FOUR pages of reading!)

Summary:
Toyota has slowly and deliberately become SUV headquarters for buyers who want quality, durability and reliability in a cargo hauler. Toyota and Lexus, its luxury division, offers more different kinds of sport-utility vehicles than any other manufacturer.

We've been hoping for a Lexus that offers more space, style, and power than the RX 300, and this is it. The Lexus GX 470 is a good choice for buyers who want luxury, capability and reliability. Its price far less than the big LX 470. It offers off-road capability not found in the new RX 330 and will go places the big LX 470 can't go. Equipped with the third-row seat, the GX 470 can carry up to eight people.

 

[GatorGreg]

The GX 470 offers all the features that serious off-roaders want: a moonroof, 6-disc CD changer, leather-and-wood steering wheel and climate control.

I was laughing my ass off when I read this quote taken from the SanDiego review Thai posted above

Very impressive that the GX won the Four Wheeler award

 

[Thai]

Link:

The Car Connection Review

2003 Lexus GX470
Because there’s no such thing as too many SUVs.
by John Pearley Huffman

It’s hard to argue with success. Toyota may have started Lexus to compete sedan-to-sedan with BMW and Mercedes, but its defining vehicles have been the Land Cruiser-based LX470 and that pioneering crossover ute, the amazingly popular RX300. The SUV business has been dang good to Lexus and it was only natural that they’d try and push the advantage.

That push is the new GX470 that splits the difference between Lexus’ two existing SUVs – it’s not much larger than the RX, but it’s built like and shares its engine with the LX. Splitting that difference leaves the GX on the high end of the meatiest part of the market where vehicles like the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and, no coincidence at all, Toyota’s own freshly redesigned 4Runner flourish. It has a full frame, a suspension built to tackle real off-road challenges, a V-8 under its hood, and a thick load of luxury equipment.

The GX470 is strictly conventional in general layout, pizzazz-free and derivative in appearance, and only marginally innovative in detail. But it’s capable, built like a Lexus and a flat-out stunning example of good business sense.

Related but not identical

Though it doesn’t share a single body panel, the GX470 is based on the same basic ladder frame chassis and mechanical package as the new 4Runner. However it’s not fair to write the GX470 off as a dipped-in-glitter 4Runner; it’s more accurate to think of each as a different variation of the Land Cruiser Prado – a more prosaic vehicle than either the GX or 4Runner that’s sold outside of North America.

Body-on-frame construction in an SUV usually indicates more serious off-road intentions than one gets from unibody crossovers like the RX and Acura MDX, and the GX delivers exactly that. As in the 4Runner, the front suspension is an independent system of double wishbones and coil springs while the solid rear axle uses control arms and (unlike the 4Runner) air springs with adjustable height control. There’s good travel at every wheel and a dual-range full-time four-wheel drive system is standard.

Power for the GX470 comes from Toyota’s ever more familiar 235-horsepower, 4.7-liter, DOHC, 32-valve V-8 that was introduced on the current Land Cruiser and now powers that vehicle, its clone the Lexus LX470, the Toyota Sequoia SUV, and is optional on the Tundra pickup and the 4Runner. As in the 4Runner (and the revised 2003 Land Cruiser and LX470), the 4.7 is backed by a new five-speed automatic transmission whose shifts can only be detected by the FBI crime lab.

Off road the GX470 is surefooted even though many of the plastic pieces hanging down off it (such as the flood lit running boards) is vulnerable to damage (we crunched one board against a not-so-large rock during the Utah press intro). Three on-board technologies, each electronically tied to the ABS-controlled four-wheel disc brakes extend the GX’s off-road prowess. A-TRAC (for Active Traction) applies braking to specific wheels that aren’t getting traction to direct more torque to wheels that are. Downhill Assist Control (DAC) guides the truck down slowly in high-drama situations, and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) helps from keeping the truck from rolling back when stopped on a slope. A-TRAC effectively replaces limited slip differentials and works at least as well here as it does in the Sequoia, the DAC works brilliantly but isn’t quiet about its work, and the HAC is even useful on-road when facing steep grades.

On road, the GX is quieter than any 4x4 should be. Noise from the 265/65R17 tires is minimal but perceptible and there’s a hint of wind rush noise around the roof’s luggage rack, but otherwise it’s amazingly, well, Lexus-like, in its spooky silence. The steering feels good if not overly communicative, ride motions are nicely controlled in normal traffic but heavy crosswinds can be felt. For a tall vehicle that’s not light, the GX470 corners like a tall vehicle that’s not light.

With 4675 pounds to slog around, the V-8 has to work hard and can feel strained. It’s not quick, but there’s enough thrust aboard to sustain speed in most situations. Lexus rates it to tow up to 5000 pounds, but don’t expect it to haul half that without straining.

Lexus inside, Suzuki outside.

The GX’s interior is sumptuous in the way a Lexus’ interior should be. The leather upholstery has almost a velvety sheen, the instrumentation lights up with electro-luminescent lushness and the wood veneers look like refugees from a Lemon Pledge commercial. The third-row seat (which sits atop the space-robbing solid rear axle) is practically useless, but front seat passengers are treated regally and the second row seat is well shaped, if not endowed with an overabundance of leg room. Shoulder room is also scant throughout the cockpit, but an optional on-board DVD entertainment system (it plays through a drop-down monitor for rear seat passengers and through the dash-mounted navigation system’s screen for front seat passengers – only when the vehicle is parked) keeps everyone thoroughly amused, assuming it’s not playing a Kevin Costner movie.

The big disappointment with the GX470 is that it looks like a scaled up Suzuki XL-7 in profile, like a boring sedan from the front and like a high school geometry textbook that’s exploded in the back. A vehicle this competent and this confident deserves an appearance that’s both more distinctive and more elegant.

Surefire success

SUVs and Lexus make for an unstoppable combination. For buyers who need – or just want – more off-road prowess than the RX supplies, the GX offers it with little pain or compromise in comfort. For those who’d really like an LX470, the GX offers virtually all of that vehicle’s ability and luxury in a slightly smaller package for about a third less money.

The Japanese-built GX won’t be cheap with prices starting at $45,500 after shipping, and with RX production moving to North America this year, Toyota will have plenty of capacity to turn them out in vast numbers. Both SUV shoppers and Toyota’s ever-more awestruck accountants will be thrilled.

2003 Lexus GX470
Base price: $44,925 (plus $575 destination)
Engine: 4.7-liter DOHC V-8, 235 hp
Drivetrain: Five-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 188.2 x 74.0 x 73.0 in
Wheelbase: 109.8 in
Curb weight: 4675 lb
Safety equipment: Dual front airbags, front side impact airbags, front and second row side curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes
Major standard equipment: Power windows/locks/mirrors, A/C, power mirrors, leather upholstery
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles

 

[Thai]

Here are some pictures of the GX by Erick G at ClubLexus.com:

Sand Dollar Pearl (very nice...my favorite color!)

No HIDs

 

[Thai]

Link:

USA Today Review

Lexus GX 470 has a living-large feel
Goodness, the Lexus GX 470 is a sweet truck to drive: comfortable, classy, quiet, quick.

No surprise. The GX is mechanically similar to the 2003 Toyota 4Runner, also a delight to pilot.

GX is a new model for Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, slotting between the car-based, $35,000 Lexus RX 300 and the truck-based, $62,000 Lexus LX 470.

SUVs are a lone star in a darkening sky. Their sales this year are up 5.7% vs. last year, according to Autodata, while total new vehicle sales are down 2.4%.

Though GX is based on 4Runner underpinnings, the two SUVs were developed by different chief engineers, so they have some major differences:

Body. 4Runner looks like the truck it is. GX features Toyota's generic SUV look, in which Toyota Highlander looks like Toyota Land Cruiser looks like Lexus LX 470 looks like GX 470. And GX's tailgate opens sideways, like a door. It's hinged on the right-hand side, which can be inconvenient for loading in some situations.

Price. GX starts at $45,500, including standard V-8 engine and four-wheel drive (4x4). 4Runner with V-8 and 4x4 starts at $30,790. The Lexus has more standard features, and you buy it from a dealer who's probably nicer. It's up to you if that's worth a $15,000 premium.

The difference can be more. If you don't need the V-8, or the 4x4 system, the V-6, two-wheel-drive version of 4Runner went on sale just this month starting at $27,715.

Seats. A third row is optional in GX, not available in 4Runner. The third-row seat comes with rear air conditioning and is priced $2,030.

Lexus claims the way-back row will seat three, but it'd be a squeeze. To get the seats out of the way, you have to fold them flat, then fold them against the side of the truck, then fasten them there. Too much rigmarole for a $50,000 SUV. The luxury SUV owner probably prefers one-finger convenience. Lexus says the third row can't fold down under the floor because the beefy truck frame is in the way. A unibody model, such as Honda Pilot, has more space underneath that leaves room for a nicer folding-seat arrangement.

Ah, but there's plenty good about the GX seating arrangements, and a lot else.

The front seats, especially, ravish both the eye and the rump, cosseting the body in sculpted premium leather. The GX chairs are, for many physiques, a new standard in automotive comfort.

The engine starts with a touch of the key, as in 4Runner. No need to keep the key twisted; a light turn and let go.

The wood-trimmed gearshift lever beckons the palm, snaps precisely into the chosen gear and invites you to move off smartly.

The 4.7-liter V-8, used in 4Runner and other Lexus and Toyota models from the workaday Tundra pickup to the Lexus LX 470, gurgles and begins a low snarl as the gas goes down. It's remarkable how briskly it will accelerate the 2.3-ton truck — standstill to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds, Lexus says.

Whether bustling along urgently or burbling serenely, the GX steering and brakes seem well-programmed. They make the truck do just about exactly what the driver means for it to do, which has become a nearly lost art.

The adjustable suspension has four settings, from soft and cushy — not quite mushy — to pleasantly firm. It's a useful span. The firmest setting helps the hefty truck cope well with corners, and it gives truck purists a tiny jiggle now and then to remind them they really are in a truck with a frame. In a midway position, the GX suspension lets occupants quickly forget they are in a truck and glide along on car illusions.

The test drive included a snowstorm and an ice storm. The 4x4 system performed well in both, despite partial reliance on traction control. Too much dependence on traction control is ruinous. It takes over too soon and cuts engine power to keep the wheels from spinning. GX's system allowed the wheels to spin a bit before intruding, and that's as it should be.

You can drive the GX confidently in most any weather, and you'll be happy to, because GX seems supremely capable.

The GX gets extra credit for details.

- The floor console has not only two decent cup holders, but also a cubby behind them that can hold more beverage containers if necessary or can be a toss bin for PowerBar wrappers and gas receipts.
- Stereo controls are exceptionally simple, even when you get the optional navigation system. You can do almost everything you want using a real control rather than toggling through distracting and aggravating choices on the navigation screen. About all you need the screen for is to use the radio station push buttons. What a fresh breeze from GX — simplification and common sense.
- A hill-descent control keeps downhill speed to a crawl in low-range. If you're stopped pointing up a steep or slick hill, another device prevents the truck from rolling or sliding backward.
- Space around the driver is arrayed to minimize knee bumping and foot tangling. You'd be surprised how many nice vehicles don't do the space thing very well.

The GX could be better.

The radio looks cheap, eroding the high-quality presentation of the interior. The CD changer takes space in the glove box, instead of being housed in the dashboard.

Styling isn't great. It's classy compared with its 4Runner cousin, mainly because the GX cladding's more tasteful, but the GX is too Toyota-generic. Get the guys who crafted the visually exciting Lexus SC 430, and make them think "truck."

GX, though, can transcend its flaws once you're behind the wheel. It is a fantastic melding of attributes, resulting in a truck that befriends you immediately.

It's as if you have — ah! — finally found the vehicle you've always wanted to drive. The one that makes you feel as if you're living large, cruising along high and handsome, ready for anything, deprived of nothing.

Lexus GX 470

What is it? Midsize, four-door, luxury sport utility, mechanically similar to Toyota 4Runner. Made in Japan.

How soon? On sale this month.

How much? $45,500 including $575 destination charge; $53,435 with all factory options. Edmunds.com says typical model will have a window-sticker price of $50,230 and will sell for that.
What's the drivetrain? 4.7-liter V-8 rated 235 horsepower at 4,800 rpm, 320 pounds-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm; five-speed automatic transmission. Full-time four-wheel drive (4x4) system is standard and has Torsen limited-slip center differential and manual-lock feature; two-speed transfer case with 2.566-to-1 low range. System sends 40% of the power to front wheels, 60% to the rears under normal conditions, changes to 29/71 split during steering to provide tighter cornering, can shift up to 53% of power to front wheels when rears lose traction. Also: Electronic traction control; descent control to limit downhill speed on steep hills; hill-start assistance to prevent vehicle from rolling backward on steep or slippery surfaces.

What's the safety gear? Anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution and brake assist; electronic skid control; conventional front air bags plus front-seat-mounted side-impact bags and side-curtain head-protection bags for first and second rows.

What's the rest? Leather upholstery; maple trim; dual-zone climate control; power steering, brakes, windows, locks, mirrors, seats; rain-sensing windshield wipers; heated front seats with thermostat controls; rear-window wiper, defroster; auto-dimming rearview mirrors; auto on-off headlights; trip computer; four-position adjustable suspension; three-position adjustable ride height; AM/FM/cassette/6-CD stereo; sunroof; 265/65HR-17 mud and snow tires on alloy wheels with full-size spare.

Who'll buy? Lexus figures most will be 40 to 50 years old with household income of $150,000 to $210,000; 50%-60% male, 75%-85% married, 65%-75% college graduates, 50%-60% with kids under 18.

How many? About 20,000 a year.

How big? Slightly shorter, wider, taller and heavier than a Ford Explorer, with slightly less cargo space. GX 470 is 188.2 inches long, 74 inches wide, 74.6 inches tall including roof rack, on a 109.8-inch wheelbase, 4,675 pounds. Cargo space is listed as 13.2 cubic feet behind optional third-row seat, 39.8 cubic feet with third row folded, 49.7 with third row removed, 77.5 cubic feet with second row folded and third row removed.

How brawny? Rated to haul 1,425 pounds of people and cargo, tow 5,000 pounds.

How thirsty? Rated 15 miles per gallon in town, 18 on the highway. Premium fuel is recommended, regular is OK. The pre-production test truck's trip computer registered 11 mpg in enthusiastic town driving, 15 mpg in 50-50 mix of town and highway.

Overall: Best luxury SUV.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

After reading the brochure on the GX, i found out that the GX470 has sweep the off-roading magazine awards!

It has won:

1. FourWheeler of the Year, by FourWheeler Magazine;

2. 4x4 of the Year, by Peterson's 4-Wheel & Off-road.

You just can't ask for anything better than that! It has beaten out many formidable competitors, including Hummer H2 and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Impressive.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

Here is a picture of the Mark Levinson speakers in the GX:

Here is a description of the excellent sound system:

Mark Levinson Speakers

14 custom designed speakers, appropriately placed in the GX470 cabin provide proper sound coverage:

Two front door .75" titanium tweeters and two 2.5" metal cone midranges are located as high in the door and mirror sail as possible to improve imaging for the front and second seat. The new metal cone 2.5" midrange speaker provides lower distortion and higher power handling for improved sonic performance and coverage in a large cabin. Imaging also is improved because of the extended lower frequency performance of this new metal cone speaker.

One .75" titanium center channel speaker to locate and stabilize the soundstage above the instrument panel and improve imaging in the passenger seat. Also, the center channel speaker provides proper reproduction of movie sound tracks similar to a home theatre system and assists in second seat sound reproduction.

Two new 6"x9" low frequency front door speakers provide greater low frequency extension from the important left and right front channels. This allows for better bass performance in a large cabin with both music and movie sound tracks.

Two .75" titanium tweeters and two 6.5" midranges are located in the rear doors.

Because of the system architecture above, the 6.5" subwoofer with IVE installed in the right rear quarter panel only handles the lowest octave. These frequencies are non-localized and do not disturb the tonal balance of the system in the second and third seats.

The two 2.5" metal cone speakers in the rear hatch satellite provide rich, well balanced music reproduction in the third seat, as well as create an ambient "surround" atmosphere for movie sound tracks, similar to a home theatre system.

Mark Levinson Amplifier Processor:

Biamped front left and right channel systems
Four channels, 120watts, of bandwidth-limited amplification power the two most important channels of the GX470 system. The advantage is low distortion, non-fatiguing music and movie sound track reproduction, capable of filling the large volume passenger cabin.

ML1 DSP Discrete Processor/Power Amplifier as used in the award winning LS430 and SC430 Mark Levinson Premium Sound Systems. Eight channels, 240 watts of discrete amplification for low distortion, high output music and movie reproduction in a large passenger cabin.

DSP equalization with proprietary software application tools provides for digital domain adjustment of frequency response, time alignment, filter type, order and Q. Volume, loudness and speed compensation are also performed digitally within the ML1.

Custom GX470 system voicing created for "on the road" listening allows each seat to be the "best seat in the house" with both music and movie sound tracks.

The Mark Levinson Premium Sound System was designed and voiced specifically for the acoustic environment of the GX470. Our system approach addressed the distinct characteristics and challenges presented by this cabin. We employed well founded electrical and acoustical engineering principles in the system design, sophisticated DSP hardware and software in the system execution and most importantly, allowed for the trained human ear to be the final arbitor in voicing the system for the highest level of on-the-road music and movie reproduction.

Want to learn more, check this link out:

http://www.marklevinsonlexus.com/gx470specs.html

Very nice indeed!

 

[Thai]

Here is the CAR & DRIVER recent SUV comparison, with the GX470 coming in second:

SUV Comparo

Second Place
Lexus GX470

Let's see now, current wisdom says you can't convert a pickup chassis into a proper civilized sport-ute, especially one aimed at the wine-and-cheese crowd. But tell that to the Lexus brain trust, which somehow managed to meld a Tacoma-pickup-size chassis complete with a live rear axle and a Tundra-cum-Sequoia V-8 into the truly splendid GX470. The result feels like a short-wheelbase version of the LX470, one of the ne plus ultra of SUVs. It also packs a ne plus ultra price tag, especially when loaded to the gills as was our $53,435 prototype, with $5475 worth of unnecessary DVD video, Mark Levinson audio, and Lexus Link telephone gear.

Although the Lexus failed to lead the pack in any of the performance categories, it finished on the podium in the dash to 60 mph, through the quarter, and through the lane change. It also clambered over hill and dale with the tread-lightly grace of a Rover. It was the GX470's balance and general sense of quiet competence that impressed this crew of test drivers, especially when coupled with its superb cruising capabilities on the highway, its full roster of features, and its traditional Lexus level of fit and finish.

THE VERDICT
Lexus GX470

Highs: Silky V-8 and suspension, surprising muscle for a luxury SUV.

Lows: So-what body cladding, instrument panel by Remington 20 gauge.

The Verdict: Another home run for the Lexus lads.

If it has limitations, they are in the towing department (a 5000-pound capability versus 7700 for the winner) and less than sumptuous comfort levels for three passengers in the rear seats, although perhaps extra credit is due Lexus for offering the only three-place third-row seat (a $2030 option). Some also felt the external styling, with its GM-inspired body cladding, fell short in pure aesthetics. Complaints were also recorded about the complexity and scatter-shot placement of the controls.
Aside from these niggles, the GX470 acquitted itself in dazzling fashion in all aspects of the test. Said an enthusiastic staffer, "I like the feel of the Lexus. Great seats. Terrific ride with the adjustable shocks set in comfort or sport mode. The exhaust sounds are wonderful!" Said another, "Great off-road vehicle when the differential is locked up and the suspension raised. This thing will hill-climb! On- and off-road manners make a great combination."

Enough said.

 

[Thai]

More pics from C&D Review

 

[Thai]

Some pics from the review:

 

[Thai]

Hey GX470 owners,

If you want to watch DVD movies on the Navigation screen WHILE moving, check this link out: (instruction for LX470 and Land Cruiser)

http://forums.vmag.com/suvlc0199/messages/2488.html

Posted by Sal on February 16, 02 at 17:42:50:

In Reply to: Land Cruiser Nav/DVD override posted by Brian H on January 23, 02 at 10:49:45:

This is available here please spread the word

[email protected]
http://forums.vmag.com/suvlc0199/messages/2377.html

Carefully remove the center dash display cover panel (black or wood grain) from the multi display/radio (use the rounded end of a bottle opener to pry it gradually and gently or you will break one of the 8 locating clips) Unplug the clock connector at the bottom and set the cover aside. Remove 4 Phillips screws from Multi Display panel and balance the entire unit on the shifter. Careful not to let anything scratch the touch screen. Locate grey connector (no need to disconnect) on back of unit top row (directly inline with front side temperature up and down button) then locate VIOLET wire, cut it about 2 inches from connector and tape off the two cut ends. (This eliminates the speed signal turning off the video) Next locate red/white wire in same connector and also cut it BUT leave about 4 or 5 inches or so of wire remaining at the connector side. NEXT strip

 

[Thai]

Lexus Leads Luxury SUV Category With Three-Model Strategy

The 2004 Lexus RX 330 is an integral part of the three-model luxury utility vehicle strategy that has made Lexus the leader of this category. The all-new GX 470 introduced for model year 2003 is a full-capability V8-powered SUV positioned between the RX 330 and the premium-luxury LX 470. The two new-model introductions and a revised LX 470 give Lexus the youngest line of luxury utility vehicles in the industry.

"The concept of 'luxury utility vehicles' aims to clearly describe to consumers what Lexus produces, promises and delivers," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Denny Clements. "Lexus luxury utility vehicles not only symbolize power and prestige, but their upscale, aspirational image and generous luxury appointments set them apart from other automotive makes."

Lexus was the first full-line luxury brand to offer a luxury utility vehicle, with the launch of the LX 450 in March 1996. Within two months on the market, it had surpassed the Range Rover in total unit sales. With the addition of the RX 300 in 1998, Lexus became the leader in luxury SUV sales, and since then, has been able to capture 26 percent or more of total luxury SUV sales.

Over the years, the luxury SUV market has changed dramatically. Several luxury brands have adopted a two-SUV strategy or expanded the variations available on one model. The segment continues to expand, adding both traditional-type models and crossover vehicles based on passenger car platforms. The luxury SUV segment has grown from just under 90,000 units in 1997 to just over 322,000 in 2001, and is expected to reach 580,000 in 2005.

"Lexus broke new ground when it launched its first Luxury SUV more than six years ago," said Clements. "At the time, there were doubters - including the competition - who questioned whether a luxury brand could successfully expand into sport utility vehicles. Today, the competition is following our lead."

With significant growth of new product entries, the luxury SUV category segmentation has grown to mirror that of luxury sedans, with entry, mid-size and premium luxury models. Brand loyalty in the luxury category is highest among SUVs, strengthening the business case to offer three different models. Each of the Lexus luxury utility vehicles appeals to distinct customer needs and desires. Moreover, each of the three models fulfills a distinct role in the brand's line, with little or no overlap in pricing.

RX 330: New Generation of Entry-Luxury Crossover Pioneer
The 2004 Lexus RX 330 succeeds the RX 300, which had remained the best-selling model in its competitive set right through its final season.

Launching an SUV first in the premium luxury class helped to create brand aspiration and spur demand for a lower-priced model. However, Lexus recognized that a high-volume model would attract many customers who would be moving out of passenger cars, and so it would need to provide passenger car-like ride and feel. With the launch of the five-seat RX 300 in 1998, Lexus created the template for today's entry luxury SUVs.

Based on a passenger car/SUV "crossover" platform, the RX 300 was the first luxury brand vehicle to truly combine SUV versatility with the performance and comfort of a luxury sedan. The RX 300 quickly became the best-selling luxury SUV in the market and helped grow the Lexus brand significantly.

The 2004 RX 330 builds on the successful formula of the RX 300, giving loyal customers more of what they loved about the original while providing additional technology and luxury content that have helped to make Lexus the No. 1 selling luxury brand in the U.S. market. Direct competitors include the Acura MDX, BMW X5 3.0i, Mercedes-Benz ML320 and Volvo XC90.

GX 470: Mid-Size, Full Capability
The 2003 GX 470 fills a gap in price and capability between the car-based, entry-luxury RX 330 model and the premium luxury LX 470. With body-on-frame construction, V8 power and seating for up to eight passengers, the GX 470 is conceptually similar to the LX 470. It offers more room and greater towing capacity than the RX 330, and its innovative four-wheel drive and advanced dynamic control systems help give it the capability to navigate rugged off-highway terrain. Lexus expects to sell more than 20,000 of the new model in 2003.

The GX 470 is slightly smaller than the LX 470. Its standard equipment and options give customers a taste of the luxury that's available in the LX 470. The off-road system unites several advanced technologies to give the GX 470 the kind of off-road capability that customers in this segment have come to expect.

The GX 470 will attract new customers to Lexus. It also will provide a new choice for previous RX 300 owners who are looking for greater vehicle capability but want to remain within the brand. Competitors include the Mercedes-Benz ML500, BMW X5 4.4i, Land Rover Discovery, as well as the larger Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.

LX 470: Full-Size, Premium Luxury
The eight-seat LX 470 is a premium, full-size, full-capability model that will remain a relatively low-volume flagship in the Lexus luxury utility vehicle strategy. Its body-on-frame construction, high-torque V8 engine, sophisticated chassis and four-wheel drive provide uncompromised off-road capability for customers who need it, without sacrificing the smooth ride quality that Lexus customers expect.

As a flagship model, the LX 470 is a technology leader. Adjustable Height Control suspension debuted on this model, for example. For 2003, the LX 470 introduced a new optional Night View System that uses near-infrared technology to help enhance nighttime driving visibility.

The LX 470 has also been something of a model for others to follow, with more competitors introducing full-size luxury SUVs in the past few years. Its key competitors include the BMW X5 4.6i, Land Rover Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG and G-Class.

 

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2003 Lexus GX 470 Wins 4-Wheel & Off-Road's 4x4 of the Year Competition

January 6, 2003, Los Angeles, Calif. - 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine has named the 2003 Lexus GX 470 the winner of its coveted 4x4 of the Year competition. This is the 21st year of this magazine's in-depth competition of new vehicles, and the first year that a Lexus vehicle has taken home the award.

"This award is unique because it pits all eligible four-wheel-drive vehicles against one another," said Rick P

 

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Link:

Edmunds Review of GX470

Summary:

Ups: Luxurious cabin furnishings, plush ride quality, fine road manners, smooth drivetrain, plenty of off-road ability should you need it.

Downs: Very tight quarters in optional third-row seat, limited rearward visibility, modest top-end horsepower.

The Bottom Line: A luxurious sport-ute that offers a near-perfect blend of on- and off-road capability. You won't miss the LX 470.

Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $45,500 (including destination charge)

Options on Test Vehicle: Lexus Link ($1,215 — includes one year of telematics service), Navigation System/Mark Levinson Audio Package ($2,700 — includes DVD-based navigation system and 14-speaker, 240-watt Mark Levinson audio system; glovebox-mounted CD changer replaces in-dash unit), Rear-Seat Entertainment System ($1,560 — includes DVD player in center console, remote control, two pairs of wireless headphones and input jacks for video game systems and wired headphones), Third-Row Seat with Rear Air Conditioner ($2,030), Tow Hitch Receiver ($430), Rear Spoiler ($515 — port-installed).

MSRP of Test Vehicle: $53,950 (including destination charge)