mikeavelli
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Carmaker1, that was incredible! Thank you!
Carmaker1, that was incredible! Thank you!
I am sorry, but I personally do not agree with that. I owned a 2009 G55 AMG for 3 years and it is very much one of most composed body-on-frame SUV I've ever driven (aside from LX570 and QX56/80). My shorter Defender 90 is not even comparable, but that is very much expected of course. I am not the most aggressive driver (a little defensive though), but it holds its own very well and so does the G63 (only driven that twice).
Thank you! I unfortunately left some minor errors in there, so I hope it wasn't too muddled. I can honestly tell you, that some people expect too much out of Akio Toyoda. He doesn't have absolute reign, which explains any minor disappointments lately. Akio's final say can only go so far in some regards, is what I've learned about Toyota's internal culture and their executive board. The separation of Lexus from Toyota continues to help things much better.
Wow... looks like a pretty comprehensive update. I wonder if there are powertrain changes?
I love the current interior, but this one looks more futuristic and a bit cleaner.
Heavy facelift like 3rd Generation LS. Finally now the best luxury SUV with true off-capabilities. Performance SUV is an Oxymoron.
I believe you mean the 4th generation LS updates in the form of the XF40 III (MY2013-16)? Unless you reject the 1994-2000 XF20 LS400 as the second generation model? BTW, I'm not sure what performance SUVs (being an oxymoron) have to do with these wonderful photos you've provided here for us. Thanks.
I won't comment on your entire reply above, since you obviously put a lot of time and attention into it (and made some good points)...nice job. , but I just want to clarify on one point here. I'd agree the Defender doesn't have the same level of engineering a G-Wagen, particularly a G55, would,but, as you say, that would be expected considering the huge price difference. In fact, Land Rover pulled it out of the U.S. market some years ago, though there of rumors of a possible return. Second, if you are not an aggressive driver or one prone to do quick, rash, unexpected things, then, no, the chances of flipping an G-Wagen or any SUV aren't very high. Even the notoriously unstable Suzuki Samurai could generally be driven safely if no one ever yanked the steering wheel at higher speeds to, say, avoid a deer or a small child.
Another significant question seems to be what he's going to do with Scion. On the other hand, perhaps it's good if one person doesn't get too much power in a auto corporation. I don't know if you are old enough to remember what it was like back in the 1980s and before, when Roger Smith was running GM with almost no idea of what he was doing, and King Henry Ford II ran a classic fiefdom/dictatorship at Ford. Both corporations got so screwed up that it took decades to undo the damage (and the lousy vehicles they produced), and GM eventually went bankrupt.
I remember reading about how Henry Ford was rather brutally stubborn and fired Iacocca, as he felt threatened by him after an attempted overthrow. Ford held onto BOF RWD barges longer than everyone else over his conservatism, but tapped into aero design by 1979 with Philip Caldwell and helped influence a new trend in car design (rounded, no longer boxy).
I'm not too aware about Roger Smith, he stepped down shortly before I was born! I always felt GM experienced a decline sometime in the 1980s and that now explains it.
I believe it receive the Land Cruiser V8 4.5 litre diesel power plant, in the form of the LX450d.
Some brilliant discussion mmcartalk and Carmaker1. I can talk for days about the internal structure at Toyota, as well as what has happened historically at the company. I've been a student of the company for many years. I've spent untold amounts of time learning about little details and history of the company. Some deeper discussion wouldn't be appropriate to discuss in this thread though. I can certain continue via PMs with those who wish it .
We don't get it here in Western Europe (apart from a few individual imported units). There could be a certain market for though... if it were available as a plug-in petrol hybrid
If I am not mistaken, it will exist in diesel, but no Euro6. This would have been interesting for us a few years ago. But since we communicate purely on Lexus Hybrid Drive as the perfect diesel alternative, it would be suicidal to our image to introduce a diesel again..............or maybe a turbo diesel?
If I am not mistaken, it will exist in diesel, but no Euro6. This would have been interesting for us a few years ago. But since we communicate purely on Lexus Hybrid Drive as the perfect diesel alternative, it would be suicidal to our image to introduce a diesel again.