2016 Lexus Gx Gx 460 Sport Utility 4d on 2040-cars

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2014 Lexus GX 460

The Toyota 4Runner has always held a special place in my heart for its boxy styling and off-road prowess, but until now, I never had the chance to drive its more luxurious cousin, the Lexus GX 460. Granted, the GX actually has more in common with the foreign-market Land Cruiser Prado, but all three SUVs ride on the same body-on-frame platform.
Originally an answer to the luxury SUV craze from the early 2000s, the GX hasn't changed all that much since its introduction more than a decade ago. It's a big SUV with plenty of space and crammed with just about all the luxuriousness Lexus could fit into a 12-year-old vehicle, but, more importantly, it still has the chops to go places many vehicles in its segment wouldn't dare venture. And just for good measure, Lexus tacked on its new signature spindle grille in what has to be its most pronounced appearance yet.
I've had a chance to drive most of the latest Lexus products (including the IS, ES and GS) to see just how competitive Toyota's luxury arm has gotten in recent years, but after spending a week with the 2014 GX 460, it's refreshing that, for now, Lexus has resisted the urge to follow some of its rivals in replacing rugged, body-on-frame SUVs with softer, car-based crossovers.

2022 Lexus RC F and RC F Fuji Speedway growl on nearly unchanged

Two years ago, Lexus debuted an anyone-can-buy-it RC F Track Edition that cut 122 pounds from the standard RC F with upgrades like a raw carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber rear wing, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and a titanium exhaust. Our First Drive of that car praised its promise, but chided Lexus for giving up halfway to the goal of making a truly special sporting machine. A year later, Lexus rolled most of the Track Edition changes into the RC F Fuji Speedway Edition, dropping the price from the $98,750 Track Edition by exactly one Ulysses S. Grant to $98,700, but limiting availability to 60 units. The Fuji Speedway Edition returns for the 2022 model year, and while Lexus hasn't divulged pricing, availability's been constricted further, to 50 units.  The only two changes between the 2021 model and next year's version start with the exterior color. Instead of having the choice of Arctic Blast Satin White or Cloudburst Gray, the only sheetmetal hue on offer will be Electric Surge. The rich blue tone has a semi-matte finish, delivering a muted luster that won't be destroyed by an automatic car wash. The other changes is also about color, this time on the inside. The Circuit Red Alcantara and red carbon fiber trim retire to make way for a black cockpit with seats trimmed in Blue Alcantara and blue carbon fiber accents. Over on the standard car, the sole change for 2022 is a new 19-inch wheel design, still wearing staggered Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires, 255/35 in front, 275/35 in back. The real magic of the RC F lineup, its naturally aspirated V8 with 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, waves its hardcore enthusiast flag for another year unchanged. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Lexus ES 350 vs. Lincoln MKZ

Despite a lineup of well-received crossovers on the Lexus showroom, the midsize Lexus ES 350 four-door continues to appeal to consumers. Many of those customers are older, so you won't see marketing budgets directed toward them; no one, other than the pharmaceutical companies, is spending money marketing to baby boomers. But a midsize, moderately expressive sedan with an easy buying experience and almost coddled ownership still has its fans, and the Lexus ES 350 delivers those attributes in spades. We'd like to say Lincoln's MKZ (pictured above) is hot on the Lexus' heels, but Lincoln's lineup remains a work in progress. The Fusion-based MKZ offers a nice mix of attributes, but Lincoln's dealer count has shrunk, and many Lincoln outlets are located within – or immediately adjacent to – Ford stores. If a Fusion-based Lincoln credibly aspires to Lexus-like attributes, the same won't be said for the Ford showrooms. Here are the offerings: The Lexus ES 350 team has, over the sedan's several variations, worked hard to separate the volume Lexus from Toyota's similar Camry, and in 2017 that separation might actually be quantifiable. To its credit, the ES 350 (pictured at left) comes with but one non-hybrid drivetrain, a 3.5 liter V6 connected to a six-speed automatic driving the front wheels. With it, the ES 350 delivers a motoring experience bordering on the sublime. With the exception of its now-predictable big mouth grille, the balance of the ES sheetmetal is responsibly muted, inoffensive to the eye and should wear well through the typical payment cycle. Access to its moderately upscale interior is easy, and once inside you'll find expansive room (some 100 cubic feet) for four, along with adequate space for the occasional fifth. With a curb weight of just 3,600 pounds, the V6's 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque is responsive, and that's evident in the four-door's 7-second sprint to 60. This isn't a track day or autocross weapon, but if part of your day is a stressful commute, this will make it less so. With a base – albeit well appointed – spec, the ES 350 retails for just under $40,000. We would order ours in Atomic Silver, even if "atomic" seems so last-century. If you can forget – for a minute – the Matthew McConaughey connection, know that Lincoln's MKZ is fully credible as a midsize, mid-fashion sedan. If you like your Fords with more expressive interiors and additional driving refinement, there's a lot to like in Lincoln's MKZ.