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| The Lexus line of automobiles at this point in time is quite intense with many automobile models having made their impact in markets around the world. Many of the Lexus models are now household names around the world. This means that every time Lexus releases a new addition to their set of vehicle lines, there is always going to be interest buzzing around the actual line that has been released. Such was the interest that had been generated in the year of 2002 in the month of November when Toyota decided to unveil a completely new vehicle line for sale in the 2003 calendar year. The Lexus GX, officially classified as a medium sized luxury SUV, was shown off at an auto show in November of 2002 as a model to be sold in 2003. The Lexus GX is quite a bit younger than many of its SUV counterparts in other Lexus series, but what it lacks in age it has certainly made up for in market share. The main competitor to the Lexus GX was the Lincoln Aviator and as that vehicle is now defunct, the Lexus GX is the unquestioned market leader in terms of sales for a medium sized luxury SUV. Because of its recent introduction in 2003, the Lexus GX is actually still a first generation vehicle. Unlike many of the other Lexus SUV products which are in their second generation and many car products which are in their third, fourth or in some cases even fifth generation, the GX has yet to undergo a completely rigorous upgrade phase that would result in a generation change. The fact that it is doing so well in the market even in spite of just being a first generation product says a lot about the initial design of the Lexus GX and probably says quite a bit about what the potential of this product line might be years or even decades down the road. The Lexus GX is officially known as the GX 470 and under that name it is sold exclusively in the North American market. Actually, people that travel around the world know that SUVs are actually mainly an American thing in terms of complete popularity and that is why many medium sized SUV manufacturers including Toyota with their Lexus GX 470 tend to focus on the North American markets. The engine that powers the GX 470, as the name implies, has 4.7 liters of actual engine displacement. In addition to this, the engine also has specifications of 32 valves, four cams and eight cylinders arranged in a V-shape within the engine itself. All of this machinery is capable of producing 270 HP when the GX 470 is at 5,400 RPM (revolutions per minute). At a lower value of 3,400 PRM, the engine is capable of producing 447 Newton metres of torque. All of these different statistics actually give the GX 470 the distinction of having one of the largest engines of any Lexus model. Of course, a lot of this power is specifically for the North American market and the GX 470 is for the most part only sold in Canada and the United States. A repackaged version of the GX 470 with a lower amount of features is sold in other marketplaces under the name of Toyota 4Runner, but for the most part it pales in comparison to the GX 470. One of the main things that Toyota enjoys doing to its cars during a generation change is tweaking the outward appearance of the car in order to correct some sort of perceived flaw. This is perhaps the reason why the second generation of the GX line might be further off than is usual for Lexus vehicles because the outward appearance of the GX 470 already has a lot going for it. The steel body is welded together in order to provide extra sturdiness and indeed the safety collision rating of the GX 470 is through the roof according to all of the independent safety ratings that have been done on the SUV. In addition to this excellent exterior, the interior of the GX 470 is quite remarkable as well. There are three rows of seats and while the official number of seated passengers is eight, with smaller children and/or making room by squeezing together you should be able to get a few more people in there. The glass is water resistant and therefore families that are traveling in this SUV can get the car a little dirty without having to worry about any of that mud and water to come tracking into the car and upset any of the family members. This is especially convenient for families that tend to take vacations off the beaten track. The interior and the exterior of the car are not the only things to get excited about; there are also the features that come standard with every GX 470 sold in North America. Things like a five-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive are commonplace in the GX 470 to the point where customers don't even have to ask for them; it is just assumed that they will be a part of the SUV. Recent additions to the SUV structure include iPod support and Bluetooth wireless connections so that even on the road people can attend to whatever work or play suits their interests at that time. Because of the overall package of the GX 470 that includes various luxuries and amenities, the unit has received a number of awards recognizing its excellence not only within the medium sized luxury SUV category but also in the general sense that the GX 470 is just a very well constructed automobile. Awards that the car has won have been featured in places like 4x4, J.D. Power and Associates and Kelley Blue Book. |
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