Car and Driver - USA (2019-10)

80. CHARTING THE CHANGES. CAR AND DRIVER. OCT/2019

New Cars for 20 20 Land Rover — Lexus

Lexus
—
GX: Lexus’s trucky SUV
receives minor cosmetic
surgery resulting in a massive
spindle grille and standard
LED headlights. For the few
who intentionally take their GX
off the asphalt, a new Off-Road
package brings a transmission

Lexus RC: The regular RC 300 and 350 coupes carry over largely unchanged,

but the F model’s 5.0-liter V-8 receives a 5-hp bump, to 472. For a $31,900

]_RZVbZ\cR_aUR`aN[QN_Q?03ON`R]_VPR#"$$"aURA_NPX2QVaV\[V`¼aaRQdVaU

PN_O\[PR_NZVPO_NXR_\a\_`NaVaN[VbZReUNb`aS\_TRQdURRY`N[QNadRNXRQN[Q

a_NPX_RNQf`b`]R[`V\[6aV`SR`a\\[RQdVaUNPN_O\[¼OR_U\\Q_\\SN[Q_RN_dV[T

=_\QbPaV\[V`YVZVaRQdVaU\[Yf"ReNZ]YR``YNaRQS\_aUR`aNaR`

cooler, a skid plate for the gas

tank, cameras that provide

multiple views to spot terrain

obstacles, and various drive

modes for wheelin’.

—

LC: Though few details are

available, the sleek coupe will

pop its top late in 2020, likely

as a 2021 model. Expect a

price north of $100,000 for

the LC convertible.

—

RX: To notice the new look

of the brand’s best-seller,

you’ll have to squint just as

much as the vehicle does; the

revisions made to its fascias

losing six cubes. The Evoque
also features considerably
more tech than before: A
digital instrument cluster, the
dual-screen InControl Touch
Pro Duo infotainment inter-
face, and an array of front-fac-
ing cameras to aid off-roading
(or to avoid smacking parking
curbs at the mall) are all
options. Both the P250 and
P300 models have all-wheel
drive and a turbocharged
2.0-liter inline-four mated to
a nine-speed automatic. The
P250 boasts 246 horsepower
while the P300 delivers
296 ponies. Like the Disco
Sport’s 286-hp engine, this
one includes a 48-volt hybrid
system. Base models open at
$43,645.
—
Range Rover Sport: Like its
Range Rover big brother, the
Sport adopts both the plug-in-
hybrid P400e powertrain and
the turbo- and supercharged
inline-six with the 48-volt
electrical subsystem. Pricing
starts at $69,945.
—
Range Rover Velar: The big
news for the shapely Velar is
that JLR has found yet
another, and likely final, home
for its supercharged 5.0-liter
V-8, resulting in the 550-hp
Velar SVAutobiography.
Starting at $91,815, the
high-test all-wheel-drive Velar
sports uprated brakes, revised
suspension tuning, a host of
interior upgrades, and
tastefully minimal exterior
enhancements.
—
Minor trim changes:
Discovery

and to its head- and taillight

designs are that subtle.

Inside, the standard 8.0-inch

infotainment display and

optional 12.3-inch unit are now

touchscreens, giving buyers

the opportunity to bypass the

dreadful touchpad. The RX’s

powertrains remain the same,

but structural reinforcements,

stiffer anti-roll bars, and a

fresh damper tune should

improve handling. The F Sport

package is now available two

ways: as strictly an appear-

ance package or as an appear-

ance package plus a cold-air

intake, fake engine sounds,

KING OF THE SEA

Lexus is selling 100 Inspi-

ration Series LC500s in

Nori Green Pearl paint

with tan interiors. The

color is named after the

dried algae that is used

to wrap sushi rolls.

adaptive dampers, and a

revised steering calibration.

—

Minor trim changes: ES, GS F,

IS, LS, LX, NX

Unchanged: GS, UX

Dead: GS300

LEXUS RC F TRACK EDITION