Five years already? Why yes, and that means since it's been half a decade since the third-gen Lexus LX was introduced to the world at the 2007 New York Auto show, it's time for a refresh. Friends, meet the 2013 LX570. While it's still based on the 200 series Toyota Land Cruiser, there are enough changes inside and out for Lexus to call it new. Best of all, it remains a large, 8-passenger, go anywhere you please SUV.
Changes, let's talk about the changes. Externally, the big change is the new grille. Like the GS, and we'll just assume all near-term future Lexi, the LX570 gets the pinched "spindle" grille. Calling the new schnoz attractive is a stretch, but it sure is distinctive. Up front you'll also find new LED daytime running lights, a new bumper and larger fog lamps. From behind, you'll also notice a new bumper, license plate surround and a more thoroughly integrated trailer hitch cover. Also, the rearview mirrors get turn signal indicators.
Inside, there are a few new items woth noting. The big news is the "Easy Access" system. Long story short, when you turn the big LX off, the steering wheel moves out of your way and the seat slides back. Not ground breaking, but nice. The front seats also have improved ventilation. You'll find a few more pieces of chrome accenting the cabin, as well as some mahogany wood. Mechanically speaking, the LX570 keeps on keeping on.
In conclusion, not a whole has changed in Lexus LX570-ville. But then again, not a whole lot needed to be changed.
When I was just one-year-old and newly walking, I managed to paint a white racing stripe down the side of my father’s Datsun 280Z. It’s been downhill ever since then. Moral of the story? Painting the garage leads to petrolheads. I’ve always loved writing, and I’ve always had strong opinions about cars.
One day I realized that I should combine two of my biggest passions and see what happened. Turns out that some people liked what I had to say and within a few years Angus MacKenzie came calling. I regularly come to the realization that I have the best job in the entire world. My father is the one most responsible for my car obsession. While driving, he would never fail to regale me with tales of my grandfather’s 1950 Cadillac 60 Special and 1953 Buick Roadmaster. He’d also try to impart driving wisdom, explaining how the younger you learn to drive, the safer driver you’ll be. “I learned to drive when I was 12 and I’ve never been in an accident.” He also, at least once per month warned, “No matter how good you drive, someday, somewhere, a drunk’s going to come out of nowhere and plow into you.”
When I was very young my dad would strap my car seat into the front of his Datsun 280Z and we’d go flying around the hills above Malibu, near where I grew up. The same roads, in fact, that we now use for the majority of our comparison tests. I believe these weekend runs are part of the reason why I’ve never developed motion sickness, a trait that comes in handy when my “job” requires me to sit in the passenger seats for repeated hot laps of the Nurburgring. Outside of cars and writing, my great passions include beer — brewing and judging as well as tasting — and tournament poker. I also like collecting cactus, because they’re tough to kill. My amazing wife Amy is an actress here in Los Angeles and we have a wonderful son, Richard.Read More
