ELEGANT, BULLETPROOF
The GX in South Africa is offered in two guises, the five-seater Overtrail currently bulleting across the Bokkeveld, equipped with extra off-road equipment, and the more luxury-focused seven-seater SE, which puts the accent firmly on outright luxury, even as it retains its bulletproof chassis and underpinnings. Overtrail is a clever idea, slotting into an increasingly popular niche for high-end luxury SUVs that have genuine off-road ability. Both Overtrail and SE models use the same powerplant, the 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that has been so successful for Lexus recently.
And as the Cederberg’s otherworldly eruptions get ever closer and the black ribbon starts to snake, it’s easy to see its appeal. With 260kW and 650Nm of torque available, it has a muscularity rare in this sector. And elasticity; the 0-100km/h time of seven seconds might be impressive, but it’s the in-gear acceleration that stands out. Overtaking is a thought process rather than a planned manoeuvre, fast, efficient, elegant, just the distant roar of the butter-smooth V6 and an immediate surge of power. The twin turbochargers are beautifully set up to deliver both low- and high-end boost, with little lag.
MIDDELBERG PASS, THE GREAT TEST
Fast sprint behind us, Middelberg Pass looms. It falls off the Cederberg ridge to the coastal belt, a vertiginous drop, dirt all the way, barrierless, steep, demanding. The GX arrives ready for the challenge. Sensible 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tyres with a 20mm wider tread take care of the rubber requirements. A reinforced under-protector means no damage to the undercarriage and the Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS), working in conjunction with the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), provides traction and stability whatever the pass throws at it.
There are six modes – Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow and Rock – and we choose Dirt, leaving the heavy lifting to the sophisticated electronics, though we could involve ourselves manually from the cabin if we wanted to, the electronic chassis selections being adaptable from the centre console.
Inside, of course, it’s all Lexus, a digital masterclass wrapped in carefully crafted detailing. Middelberg is as involving – or not – as we want, simply by opening or closing the windows and moonroof. Closed, with Mark Levinson seeing to the symphonic accompaniment, the fridge consol box offering chilled softs and the 12.3-inch infotainment screen translating outside conditions, it’s about as elegant as the wilds can get. Wilderness, reimagined.
Down in Citrusdal, descent safely accomplished, the GX 550 makes for Cape Town along the N7, another beautifully cambered national route. Its speed-limit manners are impeccable, whisper quiet, solid in the crosswinds of summer, ergonomic seating painstakingly engineered, a master of the long road. There can be few more satisfying ways of spending an afternoon, and as the outskirts of the city loom, there’s an urge to turn around and repeat the entire route. Next week. Or, perhaps, the Richtersveld…
