Lexus’ flagship SUV, the LX, began its Indian innings in May 2017. To get things started, it was available in just a single variant – the 450d. With a price tag of Rs 2.33 crore, it was right up there with the most luxurious SUVs in the market. Now, however, the said variant is no longer available. One of the main reasons behind its demise is the negative consumer sentiment for diesel-fed vehicles. Another driver is Lexus’ shift in focus from internal combustion engines to electric motors. The LX 450d was powered by a 4.5-litre V8 engine which was good for 265PS/650Nm. Transmission duties were handled by a 6-speed automatic unit.

So, what do you do if you want the Lexus LX in your life? Well, there’s still the petrol-powered variant you can buy. Tagged simply as the 570 and priced at Rs 2.33 crore, it is powered by a 5.7-litre V8 engine which produces 367PS/530Nm. The only transmission option available with this engine is an 8-speed automatic unit. Even though it weighs 3.4 tonnes, the sprint from zero to 100kmph takes just 7.7 seconds. And, to ensure none of the oomph is wasted, the LX 570 has four-wheel-drive with adaptive suspension.

Needless to say, the Lexus LX 570 comes loaded with features. The list includes ventilated front seats with cooling function, cruise control, multi-drive modes, paddle shifters, auto headlamps and wipers, four-zone climate control, wireless charger, rear-seat entertainment displays, ambient lighting and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system mated to a 19-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System.

The LX, like all other Lexus models, is brought to India via the CBU route. Hence, it falls in the same sort of price range as the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and the Range Rover. Earlier this year, Lexus unveiled the mid-life update of the RX SUV. If the LX is too expensive, you can wait for the RX facelift to hit our shores. That should happen either by end of 2019 or in the first quarter of next year.

Note: All prices given above are ex-showroom India.