The Coolest Non-Recall GX460 Photo

Now this is why they build this car!!!!!! I hope they never stop letting cars be fun!!

Check out the rest of the article and how well the car performed against Land Rover LR4 and the Mercedes GL450

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1007_2010_land_rover_lr4_2010_lexus_gx_460_2010_mercedes_benz_gl450/index.html

Consumer Reports lifts "Do Not Buy" on GX460

Lexus GX 460 passes retest; Consumer Reports lifts "Don't Buy" label
Consumer Reports is lifting the Don't Buy: Safety Risk designation from the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV after recall work corrected the problem it displayed in one of our emergency handling tests.

Here are some quotes from the article:

We originally experienced the problem in a test that we use to evaluate what's called lift-off oversteer. In this test, as the vehicle is driven through a turn, the driver quickly lifts his foot off the accelerator pedal to see how the vehicle reacts. When we did this with our GX 460, its rear end slid out

We are not aware, however, of any reports of injury related to this problem.

Lexus recently duplicated the problem on its own test track and developed a software upgrade for the vehicle's ESC system that would prevent the problem from happening. Dealers received the software fix last week and began notifying GX 460 owners to bring their vehicles in for repair.We contacted the Lexus dealership from which we had anonymously bought the vehicle and made an appointment to have the recall work performed. The work took about an hour and a half. Following that, we again put the SUV through our full series of emergency handling tests. This time, the ESC system intervened earlier and its rear did not slide out in the lift-off oversteer test. Instead, the vehicle understeered—or plowed—when it exceeded its limits of traction, which is a more common result and makes the vehicle more predictable and less likely to roll over. Overall, we did not experience any safety concerns with the corrected GX 460 in our handling tests. We urge all affected GX 460 owners to have the recall work performed as soon as possible. Meanwhile, repaired GXs have gone back on sale.

With the fix, the GX 460's handling is ultimately secure

In addition, the vehicle rides comfortably, has a plush, quiet, interior, and provides quick acceleration.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/05/video-lexus-gx-460-passes-retest-consumer-reports-lifts-dont-buy-label.html

GX460 RETURNS TO LEXUS SHOWROOMS

Toyota Returns Lexus GX 460 To Showrooms

This has put other manufactures on notice, as Lexus once set the bar with how to treat clients(washing cars, loaners etc), it has now set the bar so high with what to do when there is a problem and how to correct it. This may just be the new era of how Lexus is going to change the market place AGAIN. Given this is not what I think they planned, but it may be that something they have been looking for to set themselves apart once again.

Article recounts Toyotas actions toward handling Lexus GX 460 recall, citing companys quick response. Quotes from the story:

The Toyota Motor Corporation has apparently learned that staying ahead of the news cycle has its benefits.

But what Toyota did in response should serve notice to other car companieswhen faced with bad news, being proactive is of utmost importance.

Immediately following the announcement that the independent consumer research firm had given the Lexus a rare dont buy recommendation (following a safety test where the rear wheels of the GX 460 slipped out from underneath it), Toyota issued a stop sell order to its dealers and began to recall all 2010 models sold.

Promptly, Toyota made changes to the software powering the Lexus, supposedly remedying the problem. Late last week, satisfied that the problem was behind it, Toyota began to allow Lexus dealers to sell the GX 460 once again.

The automaker has taken the uncustomary route of slashing prices and offering other incentives to ensure buyers that Toyota is standing behind every Toyota, Lexus, and Scion model that it builds. So far, the automakers marketing initiative seems to be paying off .

http://thearticlewriter.com/autowriter/toyota-returns-lexus-gx-460-to-showrooms/

Hey I Think I Said That

Blog.CarandDriver.com
2010 Lexus GX460 Recalled for Stability Control Issue

Jake Holmes covers the recall but questions whether the Consumer Reports warning warranted a recall.

Quotes from the story:

Lexus stopped sales of the GX460 after Consumer Reports issued a Dont Buy: Safety Risk warning. During CRs elicit reaction performance test, the magazine found that the rear of the GX460 could slide nearly 90 degrees before the stability control system intervened, which could potentially cause a rollover.

We're still a little skeptical the problem requires such a panicked response.

CR notes that there have been no recorded GX460 rollovers, and the SUV slid only after drastic driving inputs. Still, Lexus says its engineers reproduced the problem and believe the software fix will prevent such handling traits.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2010-lexus-gx460-recalled-for-stability-control-issue/

Check out the GX460 Video---Must See Comparision

Here is a tip off from The Lexus Enthusiast. He has a before and after test of the GX460 with the issue that prompted the Consumer Reports "Do Not Buy" recomendation last week. Like stated in another article in the blog, Lexus is setting new standards on how to deal with product issues. It will take othe manufactures years to achieve the level of commitment that Toyota and Lexus have shown. It belittles other manufactures and how they treat customers. Lexus now has a new set the new Benchmark... Think about it, from discovering a issue that would normally have been just a service bulletin in the past (before the glaring spotlight of public scrutiny) to a full blown and implemente fix in a week. UNHEARD OF IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INSUSTRY!!!Here is the side by side video of the before and after:



TMC Announces Remedy for Vehicle Stability Control in Lexus GX 460 and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Toyota City, Japan—Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces its remedy for the problem concerning the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) program in its Lexus GX 460 and certain Land Cruiser Prado vehicles.

In circumstances in which advanced driving skills are required, such as when a driver of the involved vehicle sharply turns the steering wheel in high-speed conditions, or when the driver negotiates a curve at excessive speeds, the vehicle could slide sideways, due to the insufficient activation of the VSC.

The following conditions combine to cause the problem:

- In the GX 460 and Land Cruiser Prado, heavy components, such as the fuel tank, are located on the left side, and in left-hand drive versions, the left side is made even heavier because of the presence of the driver.- For vehicles with certain tires (on 18-inch wheels) and equipped with the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS*) and VSC, the activation of the VSC may not be sufficient in certain circumstances due to the setting of the VSC program.- Circumstances may require advanced driving skills, such as sharp turns of the steering wheel in high-speed conditions or negotiating a curve to the right at excessive speeds.

As a remedy, Toyota will update the VSC program to enhance the effectiveness of the VSC so that the risk of the vehicle sliding, even to the point that it is almost sideways, will be reduced.
Vehicles involved are as follows:

- GX 460: Approx. 13,000 units in total Approx. 9,400 units in the United States, approx. 1,000 units in Russia, approx 1,000 units in Oman- Land Cruiser Prado: Approx. 21,000 units in total (only left-hand drive vehicles with KDSS and VSC) Approx. 4,400 units in Oman, approx. 4,000 units in Russia, approx. 1,500 units in the United Arab Emirates. No right-hand drive units have this problem.

In total, approximately 34,000 units worldwide are involved. In North America, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) each announced a voluntary recall on April 19 (local time). As for other regions and countries involved, such as in Europe and the Middle East, TMC will work to implement similar measures as soon as possible.

http://lexusenthusiast.com/2010/04/20/lexus-gx-460-recall-remedy-demonstration/#more

Lexus Sets Precedent for the Industry

Based on an interview with Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Toyota’s quick action to stop sales of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 temporarily while investigating an issue identified by Consumer Reports "is expected to set a precedent for other auto manufacturers who find themselves in similar situations." The article quoted Anwyl as saying that "to do otherwise would prompt consumers and regulators to remember Toyota's response and ask ‘why they aren't doing it too.’"


Toyota announced its decision about the GX 460 within hours of Consumer Reports releasing its findings and has begun a detailed technical investigation of the issue.

In addition, Toyota announced today it has suspended sales of the GX 460 in all markets, has stopped production of the vehicle for several days and, to reassure consumers, has begun new safety tests on all of its sport-utility vehicles worldwide.

According to Reuters, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, speaking to reporters at an industry forum in Detroit today, said that Toyota has been "incredibly forthcoming" in its handling of the GX 460 issues. Reuters noted that Strickland said there has been a "change in level of response from Toyota" after recent issues.


http://www.blogger.com/www.toyotanewsroom.com.

GX 460 Is the Hysteria Really Warranted?

For those of you who live in a bubble and have not heard, Lexus issued a stop sale on the 2010 GX460 because of a report from Consumer Reports. Amazing the press jumped on the report and then splashed all over the news " LEXUS GX460 ROLLS OVER" all over the place. This is not the case. The GX exibited a rear end slide during an excessive speed turn where the throttle is lifted. The truck responded in a almost sports car like rear end slide before the Vehicle Stability Control kicked in and stopped the car. Consumers felt that the slide in a certain situation could cause the truck to strick a curb. Well if you think about it, any car that slides out and hits a curb would have an issue.

So Lexus is on the test tracks and I am sure tuning the electronics so that if the truck even smells hard turn the VSC controls will kick in(enjoy the beeping warning chime). Here is a article where Lexus went to bring another car to the test track but was denied access. Here they are trying to see if they have a real problem and test it the same way. It almost looks like someone is trying to hide something. Sorry to be the devils advocate but I still remember what Consumers did to the Suzuki years ago that almost caused them to go out of business for an unfounded reason. You can read up on that in my blog from last month.

http://lexusenthusiast.com/2010/04/14/more-on-lexus-visit-to-the-consumer-reports-test-track/

For you other doubting Thomas, here is a link to an article from Accuracy in Media:

http://www.aim.org/aim-report/aim-report-a-black-eye-for-consumer-reports/

Going Off Road: You Need a GX460

FourWheeler.com 2010 Lexus GX460 First Drive: Still The Most Trailable Midside Luxo-Rig?

Douglas McColloch spends a week behind the wheel of the 2010 Lexus GX460 putting it to the off-road test and writes about his experience with the vehicle.

Quotes from the story:

It would be an understatement to say we were impressed when Lexus introduced the midsize GX 470 SUV for the 2003 model year. We were so awed, in fact, by its overall trail prowess (as well as its splendid highway manners) that we bestowed our annual Four Wheeler of the Year award upon it. A year later, the GX won the award a second time, thanks to its new-for-2004 Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. To date, it's still the only vehicle to have won our award in consecutive years.

We spent a day test driving the new GX recently, and we can happily report that the latest Lexus is just as trailworthy as ever-perhaps even more so.

We know that plenty of old-timers will gripe about "taking the driver out of the equation," and while that's true to some extent, the things we like about the Crawl Control are (a) it's only there when you want it, and (b) we're delighted to see companies such as Lexus and Toyota still devoting resources and engineering dollars on technology that's specifically geared to the unique demands of off-pavement driving.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/roadtests/129_1005_2010_lexus_gx460_first_drive/index.html

RUSHERS: Lexus and Ryan Leslie

Lexus once again is trying something different. They have hooked up with Ryan Leslie, one of the hottest new young producers/performers around today. This is like a mini suspense movie. Is the star Ryan or the new GX460? You decide, but you'll agree that it definitely is something different and fun.