2008 Lexus LX570

New flagship sport-utility vehicle is a showcase for off-road technology
By Nina Russin

Lexus LX570

This year, Lexus replaces the full-sized LX470 with a new model that builds on its off-road heritage, and adds a more powerful engine. Full-time four-wheel drive with two gear ranges, a crawl control system, and adaptive suspension give the LX exceptional traction on unpaved roads. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one scale the side of a Mayan ruin.

On the downside, I’d hate to think what a trip across the Rubicon trail would do to the white pearl paint on the test truck. The vehicle’s sixteen-foot length and six-and-a-half foot width makes its less maneuverable than smaller sport-utility vehicles. Having watched running boards fall of the sides of previous models when driven off-road, I don’t expect the ones on the new LX to fare much better.

In the real world, the LX570 is a high-luxury, eight passenger vehicle that handles unpaved roads, ice and snow with aplomb. It has a powerful air conditioner tested in the Arizona desert, and special ceramic heating units that warm the interior up quickly on a cold Chicago morning. An option on the test car adds climate control seats for front-row passengers.

Adjustable ride height ensures that the LX570 will be able to clear the deepest snow banks the upper midwest can muster, while mud and snow tires enhance traction. Active safety features such as multi-terrain antilock brakes, and electronic stability control help the driver to maintain directional control on wet, hilly roads.

A towing capacity of 8500 pounds gives the LX570 enough power to haul a boat or a large trailer. Engineers maintained the body-on-frame construction and solid rear-axle on the previous model: the design makes the truck more robust and rigid for towing. Adjustable suspension damping gives the driver more control when towing a trailer.

More powerful, refined V8 engine

While I didn’t take the car off-road, I spent plenty of time behind the wheel of the LX570 in Phoenix traffic. A more powerful V8 engine with direct injection gives the full-sized sport-utility vehicle the performance of a much smaller car. It’s easy to have a lead foot behind the wheel of a 383-horsepower truck.

Most of the vehicle’s peak torque is available at very low speeds, making it easy to accelerate hard from a stop. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift option, providing some fuel economy improvements. Average combined fuel economy is about fourteen miles-per-gallon: not bad for a six thousand pound, four-wheel drive truck.

A park assist option on the test car makes it easy to slip into the average parking spot. It combines a rear back-up camera with front and side-view monitoring. Cameras mounted in the grille and under the passenger side-view mirror display areas beyond the driver’s range of vision on the navigation screen. The back-up camera image comes on automatically when the gearshift is in reverse. The driver uses a button on the dashboard to see the other perspectives. Using the cameras, I was able to back the truck into a spot between two other full-sized sport-utility vehicles, with just enough room on either side to open the doors.

Keyless entry and ignition means the driver never has to remove the key from his pocket. The remote pod automatically unlocks the door when the driver touches the door handle: a button on the door handle locks all four doors from the outside.

Standard adaptive suspension gives the LX570 car-like handling and adjustable ride height. The truck automatically lowers two inches with the ignition off to ease access and egress. When the driver shifts into low gear range, the vehicle raises an additional three inches to maximize ground clearance off-road. A high-mounted double wishbone front suspension provides nine inches of wheel travel to improve off-road traction.

A new crawl control feature replaces downhill descent control on previous models. With the car in low gear, the driver chooses one of three speed settings. The vehicle automatically maintains that speed on steep grades: the driver doesn’t have to use the brakes. Unlike downhill descent control, crawl control works in both forward and reverse gears.

Large ventilated disc brakes are firm and linear without being grabby. A new all-terrain antilock brake system prevents wheel slippage on both paved and unpaved surfaces.

Luxurious interior

Inside, the LX570 provides all of the amenities customers have come to expect from Lexus. Front-row seats on the test truck have optional climate control. Multiple seat adjustments, plus a tilt and telescoping steering wheel make it possible for drivers of all sizes to find a comfortable position. A memory function stores settings for up to three drivers. The steering wheel has redundant audio and telephone controls so the driver can stay focused on the road.

All four doors have map pockets and bottle holders. A large glovebox includes two storage shelves. Additional cupholders, large enough for bottles, are in the front center console, and in a fold-down armrest in back. Cupholders for third-row passengers are outboard of the seats.

Two twelve-volt outlets up front and a 115-volt converter in back provide plug-ins for electronic devices and chargers.

The navigation display is at the top of the center stack, with dual-zone temperature controls and audio controls beneath. Second-row passengers have separate dual-zone climate controls. Both first and second-row passengers should experience ample head, leg and shoulder room.

Third-row seats have enough legroom for children and smaller adults. Second-row seats flip forward and out of the way, making it easy to get in and out of the third row, or to extend the cargo floor.

The tailgate opens in two sections. A power control opens the top section. The bottom section opens and closes manually with minimal effort. A power control folds the third-row seats to the sides. The LX570 easily meats our ALV bicycle-friendly standards.

The optional Mark Levinson audio system provides exceptional surround sound throughout the cabin, and adds a six-disc CD changer. XM satellite radio and Lexus telematics, a system that allows drivers to call for emergency assistance 24 hours a day, are standard.

Standard safety

The LX570 comes standard with front, side, side curtain and front knee airbags, active front head restraints, a tire pressure monitoring system, all-terrain antilock braking, vehicle stability control and off-road traction control. A four-year/ 50,000 mile warranty includes 24/7 roadside assistance. The Lexus LX570 is rolling into showrooms at dealerships nationwide.

Likes: A powerful, high luxury sport-utility vehicle with advanced off-road technology, including a new crawl control system. The new LX can tow up to 8500 pounds, and while offering the ride comfort and amenities of a high luxury sedan.

Dislikes: The car’s long wheelbase makes it less suitable for extreme off-road trails than smaller trucks.

Quick facts:

Make: Lexus
Model: LX570
Year: 2008
Base price: $73,800
As tested: $80,665
Horsepower: 383 Hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 403 lbs.-ft. @ 3600 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: 7.4 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Towing: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Fuel economy: 12/18 mpg city/highway
Comments: Base price does not include a $765 delivery charge

2008 Audi S5 Coupe

Adrenaline junkie
By Nina Russin

2008 Audi S5

Behind the wheel of the Audi S5, I feel a rumbling in my aorta that can only mean one thing: I’m in big trouble. The tidal wave of adrenaline reaches its apex when I push the start button. Three hundred fifty two horses are smelling the barn: I’m just along for the ride.

The S5 is the Audi A5′s sportier sibling: both all-wheel drive coupes went on sale here last fall. Based on the 2003 Nuvolari quattro concept, the S5′s exterior is defined by a long wheelbase and sharply raked roof. A track of just over 62-inches keeps the coupe stable in the corners. The S5 rides on nineteen-inch wheels with low profile, high-performance tires. Large air scoops up front and dual branched exhaust pipes in back enhance styling, and help the engine breathe.

The eight-cylinder engine in the S5 provides ninety horsepower and a hundred foot-pounds of torque more than the V6 in the A5. The Audi S5 accelerates from zero-to-sixty in 5.1 seconds, and stops just as quickly, thanks to a aggressive disk brake package.

The test car has a six-speed manual gear box: one of two available transmissions. Buyers who prefer an automatic can opt for the six-speed Tiptronic with manual shift option.

Base price for the S5 is $50,500. A gas guzzler tax and delivery charge add $2075.  Options  on the test car include a technology package ($1700) with bi-xenon adaptive headlamps and a rear back-up camera, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system ($850), and a navigation system ($2390).

Arrest me red outside: spontaneous combustion underneath

On the first day of the test drive, I decided to park the S5 in front of our running shop, to see what kind of reaction it would bring. Within minutes, a police car pulled up, and parked about a hundred yards away. Fellow employees and I watched as the policeman waited for over an hour for someone get in the car and drive away. It hadn’t occurred to him that a person working at the store had the keys to the car.

Brilliant red paint has a way of turning heads, especially on a European luxury coupe. In the case of the S5, it’s attention well deserved. The direct injection engine provides performance every bit as thrilling as the car’s design. Fuel injected directly into the engine cylinders produces more immediate throttle response than traditional port fuel systems.

The car has a stiff, racing clutch that takes some getting used to. But the gears have enough range to make the S5 drivable in traffic. The manual gearbox shifts crisply, with no gear lash. The engine reaches peak torque at 3500 rpm, well within range for cruising along the highway.

Overdrive gears produce small fuel economy benefits. But even when driven conservatively, the S5′s beefy 4.2-liter engine is thirsty. Average fuel economy is 16 miles per gallon. The manufacturer recommends premium fuel, making the S5 an expensive car to operate.

A unique, fully independent suspension set-up gives the car exceptional steering response. Most components are aluminum to minimize unsprung weight. A trapezoidal design in the rear resists the tendency for the front of the car to dive during sudden stops. The steering rack is located directly in front of the steering wheel for better response when the car is driven at speed.

The quattro all-wheel drive system maintains a 40/60 front-to-rear balance during normal conditions to give the S5 the ride and handling of a rear-wheel drive car. If the car starts to skid, quattro redirects power to the wheels with the best traction so the driver maintains directional control.

Standard electronic stability program prevents excessive yaw. The driver can disable the system in two stages for more aggressive driving.

Like the clutch, the high performance brakes take some getting used to. It’s easy to over-apply them, and throw oneself into the instrument panel. There’s no question that the car can stop in a hurry if it needs to.

Visibility around the car is better than average, despite a rather wide rear pillar. A rear back-up camera displays a wide-angle image on the navigation screen, including areas that would normally fall below the driver’s sight-line. Lines superimposed over the image help to direct the driver when backing into a parking spot. The rear-view mirrors automatically tilt down when the driver shifts into reverse, providing a better view of curbs or other obstacles near the wheels.

Driver-focused cockpit

As with most coupes, the driver and front passenger will be more comfortable in the S5 than those seated in back. The ten-way power front leather seats have plenty of lower back support; large side bolsters keep the driver and front passenger in position.

A mouse on the center console eliminates extraneous knobs and buttons. It works like a computer control, allowing the driver to program the navigation system, audio, and other comfort and convenience functions. Buttons on the center stack activate the seat heaters, and the dual-zone temperature controls.

The ignition start button and electronic parking brake lever are next to the gear shift lever. Two cupholders in the center console are big enough for cans. The front doors have bottle holders molded into the map pockets.

A covered bin in the center console holds small electronic devices. There is also an overhead bin for sunglasses or a garage door opener.

The driver can set the cruise control or adjust audio volume using dials on either side of the steering wheel. A CD slot in the center stack is easy to reach from either front seating position. Sirius satellite radio is standard.

The premium audio system has as much finesse as the car itself: fourteen speakers and 505 watts produce surround sound with a quality that rivals high-end home systems.

The rear seats don’t have an overabundance of legroom, but it should be adequate for a smaller adult. Passengers in back have separate air vents and temperature controls. A fold-down armrest has a couple of small pop-out cupholders and a shallow bin for holding electronic devices. There are map pockets in the front seatbacks and to the sides of the seats.

The seats fold down to create a pass-through, extending the cargo floor on the already spacious trunk. It’s possible to squeeze a bicycle in with the front wheel removed, although doing so in under a minute to meet our ALV standards is a stretch.

Standard safety

The S5 comes with standard front, side thorax and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, antilock brakes, electronic stability program, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A four-year standard warranty includes four years of roadside assistance and the first scheduled maintenance free of charge. Audi produces the S4 at its Ingolstadt, Germany assembly plant.

Likes: A beautifully designed luxury sport coupe with exceptional ride and handling. The interior is attractive, ergonomic, and has plenty of storage space for small electronic devices. There is enough legroom in back for the average small adult. The spacious trunk has a pass-through that extends the cargo floor.

Dislikes: Fuel economy is poor: about 16 miles per gallon on average. Buyers have to pay a $1300 gas guzzler tax, and be prepared to shell out for premium fuel at the pump.

Quick facts:

Make: Audi
Model: S5 Coupe 4.2 quattro MT6
Year: 2008
Base price: $50,500
As tested: $ 57,515
Horsepower: 354 Hp @ 6800 rpm
Torque: 325 lbs.-ft. @ 3500 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: 5.1 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Not available
First aid kit: Not available
Bicycle friendly: No
Off-road: No
Towing: No
Fuel economy: 14/21 mpg city/highway
Comments: Base price does not include the $1300 gas guzzler tax or $775 delivery fee.