SHAH ALAM, Dec 2 — The Toyota Land Cruiser that we know as the “Ninja” was the local nickname given to the Land Cruiser 80 Series, the flagship of the Land Cruiser series in the 1990s.
While the smaller workhorse-type Land Cruisers earned their fame through being durable and tough in the timber industry in East Malaysia, the 80 series Land Cruiser, which was the replacement of the 1980 version BJ Series, became the status symbol of the timber tycoons.
When the 80 series was introduced in the early 1990s, it quickly became dubbed as the “Ninja Turtle” based on the popularity of the movie of that time, on account of the front mask of the vehicle looking very much like Raphael the ninja Turtle.
The name was shortened to Ninja over time, and since then the local name for that series, and its subsequent replacement models, the 100 Series, has been the “Ninja”. This name permeated through to the Lexus LX models that are based on the Land Cruiser, until today.
In Sabah, the LX became the “Ninja King”. Up to now, parallel imports of the LX 470 series can be seen on Malaysian roads.
The Ninja King is now officially offered through Lexus Malaysia and is more luxurious than ever before.
Effectively a Land Cruiser with Lexus trim, the LX 570 is available in our market at an on-the-road price of RM923,960.66 excluding insurance.
Justifying its high asking price, the LX 570 is powered by the largest engine in the Lexus range, a 5.7-litre V8 with advanced Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (Dual VVT-i).
Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the engine generates 362hp and 530Nm, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds despite its bulk and weight.
A new feature of the drivetrain is the Integrated Drive Mode that manages the powertrain, chassis elements and air conditioning for optimum performance in different conditions.
The LX 570 uses a robust transfer case to provide full-time 4-wheel drive. The system uses a TORSEN limited-slip locking centre differential to distribute power 40:60 front-to-rear, directing more power to the wheels with the best grip should slippage occur.
In off-road conditions or around tight spaces, the Multi-Terrain Monitor shows the images of areas around the vehicle when travelling at low speeds, and as a perimeter safety confirmation.
Besides letting the driver see all sides of the vehicle, there is one unique view not usually available on such systems — an underfloor view that will be helpful in avoiding holes and rocks.
As with an increasing number of Lexus models, the latest LX 570 comes with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), a system that alerts the driver to vehicles approaching at the rear of the vehicle with an audible alert as well as flashing indicators on the vehicle’s external side mirrors.
RCTA works with the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) system, which uses a quasi-millimetre wave radar on the back of the vehicle. The system can detect a vehicle present in adjacent lanes and can also detect an object at the rear of the vehicle as it is reversing.
Complementing the RCTA and BSM is a reverse camera that provides a view of the area around the back of the vehicle. Besides enabling the driver to see any hazards or even children, the reverse camera view also has graphics that help the driver to park the vehicle more easily.
As with all new models sold by Lexus Malaysia, there is a comprehensive manufacture warranty of three years or 100,000km (whichever comes first).
Lexus Malaysia is offering the LX 570 with a five-year or 100,000km free schedule maintenance service.
