To help enhance safety, VGRS selects a higher (slower) steering ratio if the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system is activated, which helps to prevent too large of a steering angle if the driver is attempting to avoid an obstacle. The 39.1-ft. turning circle is commendable for a large luxury vehicle.


Advanced Suspension with Adjustable Height Control

Double-wishbone independent front suspension employs torsion-bar springs for long wheel travel, and the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system helps to ensure smooth ride quality for all driving situations. AVS provides four positions to control the shock absorber damping force. Position 2 will suit most driving conditions and will automatically select the appropriate suspension damping that driving conditions demand.

Position 1 provides a softer response on bumpy roads. Positions 3 and 4 provide increasingly greater levels of control for driving a heavily loaded vehicle, driving at higher speeds on paved roads, or driving on unpaved roads. When the driver shifts the two-speed transfer case into low range for negotiating steep inclines, the AVS automatically selects the suitable damping setting.

Lexus LX 470 provides a minimum ground clearance of 9.8 inches. Hydraulic Adjustable Height Control (AHC) allows the driver to raise the vehicle to handle particularly rough off-road terrain, and to lower it for easy entry and exit. A height-control switch and light indicate current suspension height and will recommend optimal height as road conditions change.


Advanced Dynamic-Control Technology

An array of dynamic-control systems support safe, confident driving in Lexus LX 470. The ABS operates even in low range, adjusting its level of control in response to changes in road slope. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) allocates brake force between the front and rear wheels to help provide added control under hard braking. Brake Assist is designed to determine if the driver is attempting emergency braking. If the driver has not stepped firmly enough on the brake pedal to engage the ABS, the system applies increased braking power until pedal pressure is released.

The standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system on Lexus LX 470 helps keep the vehicle on its intended course by detecting front-wheel and rear-wheel slide during cornering and attempting to control either condition using torque intervention and individual wheel braking to correct any discrepancy.


Increased Visibility

The 2007 Lexus LX 470 exemplifies the Lexus brand's leadership in advanced safety technology. The standard Lexus Navigation System integrates a rear back-up camera that automatically projects an image of what its lens can detect behind the vehicle onto the navigation screen when the vehicle is in reverse gear.

The advanced optional Night View System uses near-infrared technology to help enhance nighttime driving visibility. Near-infrared beams projected from two lamps in the front bumper record images of objects ahead and relay them back to a charged coupled device (CCD) camera mounted inside the vehicle at the top of the windshield. A dedicated computer processes the images, which are then projected onto the lower section of the windshield within the driver's field of vision, resulting in a picture similar to that on a black and white television.

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