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.November 24, 2004
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This Week:

• Lexus GX 470 Gains Power and Adds New Sport Package for 2005

• All-New Competition Package For The 2005 BMW M3 Coupe

• Porsche Carrera GT Drives Off With Engineering Excellence Award

• Volkswagen Releases First Official Photos of All-New Jetta to Arrive Early Next Year

• Jaguar Ties At Number 1 In 2004 JD Power And Associates SSI Study

• Mercedes-Benz S-Class: the World's Best-selling Premium Automobile

• Toyota to Establish Technology Research and Training Centers in China

• Ford Names Robert J. Graziano To Lead The Ford Motor Company Of Southern Africa

• DuPont Will Build Automotive Paint Laboratory in Japan

• Acura Sets Yearly Sales Record

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Lexus GX 470 Gains Power and Adds New Sport Package for 2005

Lexus GX 470

Photo: Toyota

The new Sport Package gives the GX 470 a distinctive visual signature, with smoked front and rear light bezels, and dark graphite finish on the 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rack. Inside, dark graphite center console and instrument panel trim complements the Black Bird's Eye Maple wood trim.

Also new for 2005, the optional Lexus Navigation System now integrates Bluetooth® wireless technology for greater capability and convenience.

The GX 470 is a full-capability luxury utility vehicle positioned between the brand's car-based RX 330 and the premium-luxury LX 470 models in size and price. The GX 470 combines the luxury appointments and workmanship of a Lexus sedan with an innovative full-time four-wheel drive system that's augmented by an arsenal of safety and dynamic handling technology. As proof of its all-road capability, the Lexus GX 470 won the Four Wheeler Magazine's "Four Wheeler of the Year" award two years in a row.

Equipping the GX 470's 4.7-liter V8 engine with the variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) system and an electronic throttle control system with intelligence (ETCS-i) has increased output from 235 horsepower to 270. Torque rises by 10 lb-ft. to 330 lb-ft. The GX 470 also meets Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (ULEV-II) certification. Its five-speed automatic transmission provides seamless shift quality, and shift logic holds gears on inclines for power and on descents for increased engine braking - helpful when towing.

The rear Adaptive Height Control provides flexibility for the GX 470's many uses. A high setting provides an extra 1.6 inches of clearance when traversing challenging terrain. The Adaptive Height Control also will lower the rear of the vehicle 1.2 inches from its neutral setting for easier cargo loading.

The comprehensive dynamic handling technology in the GX 470 gives it exceptional capability and includes: Full-time four-wheel drive with low range; anti-lock brake system (ABS); Brake Assist (BA); Active TRAC (traction control); Downhill Assist Control (DAC); Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).

The full-time four-wheel drive system uses a Torsen® torque-sensing center differential that distributes the power 40 percent front / 60 percent rear under most conditions and changes the ratio as needed based on steering input and wheel slip. Changing to a 29 percent front / 71 percent rear distribution ratio during steering maneuvers helps to enhance vehicle tracking through curves. If the rear wheels spin, the center differential can change the ratio to 53 percent front / 47 percent rear to control the slippage.

The transmission's low range allows the GX 470 to negotiate steep off-road slopes. Downhill Assist Control (DAC) is designed to augment the low-speed descending ability of low-range by holding the vehicle to a target speed with no intervention from the driver. In addition, the Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) system helps provide additional control for off-road driving by helping to keep the vehicle stationary while starting on a steep incline or slippery surface.

A rear backup camera, available in conjunction with the optional navigation system, gives the driver a view of what the camera lens detects behind the vehicle, automatically projecting a color image on the navigation system's seven-inch LCD screen when reverse gear is engaged. A Tire Pressure Monitoring system (TPM) can detect a severe loss in pressure in one or more tires, a condition that could potentially lead to loss of control.

The Look and Feel of Lexus Luxury Interior design and content continue the Lexus tradition of blending incomparable fit and finish with unmistakable luxury. The GX 470 offers eight-passenger seating with the optional rear seat. Available rear air conditioning brings all-season comfort to the third-row passengers.

The 2005 GX 470 has a base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $45,775, and all new Lexus vehicles come with a 48-month/50,000-mile basic limited warranty with roadside assistance for 48-months/unlimited miles. Powertrain and restraint system coverage is provided for 72 months/70,000 miles. Corrosion perforation protection is covered for 72 months, regardless of mileage.

(Nov. 17, 2004)