2017 LA Auto Show: Lexus LX 570 loses an entire row

Lexus has taken the stage at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show with two of their SUVs. The RX gets a third-row seat for the first time and becomes RX L. Meanwhile, the big mammoth of an SUV, the LX, loses the entire row to make room for more cargo space. 

With 15 per cent more cargo space, less will mean more to the new 2018 LX 570 customers, says Lexus. When the Japanese carmaker learned that some customers did not use the third row and expressed a preference for more interior cargo space, this new mono-spec trim level was the solution Lexus came up with. With the third row removed, the LX now gets a whopping 1430litres of cargo space compared to the 1265litres capacity in the standard car. 

The mono-spec trim comes with all the bells and whistle Lexus has to offer. As a flagship offering, the LX 570 comes loaded with leather-trimmed interior, four-zone automatic climate control, power tailgate, moonroof and massive 20-inch wheels. The 12.3-inch screen comes with smartphone integration. On the outside, there aren’t any visual changes to differentiate the mono-spec LX from the standard car. A roof rack also comes as a standard fitment.

Under the colossal hood of the LX 570 is a 5.7-litre V8 engine producing 383bhp of max power and 546Nm of peak torque. Lexus states that 90 per cent of all the turning force is accessible from as low as 2,200rpm. Transmission is an eight-speed automatic. The mammoth has a towing capacity of up to 3500 kilograms. Based on the famous Land Cruiser, the LX comes loaded with all the hardware to do proper dune bashing in case the customer decides to do so. 

Lexus has put a price tag of USD 84,980 for the two-row LX compared to USD 92,370 for the standard model.