- CHARTING THE CHANGES. CAR AND DRIVER. OCT/2019
New Cars for 20 20 Land Rover — Lexus
Lexus
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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
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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