Car Board.(Lexus LX 470)(Brief Article)

It's that time of year when automakers the world over descend on the Motor City to show their latest wares. Remember these Detroit debuts?

* Lexus LX 470

Price: $63,710

Engine: 4.7-liter V8, 230 hp, 320 lb-ft

Curb weight: 5401 lbs

Drivetrain: 4wd, four-speed automatic

Detroit, January 1996. Lexus rolls out the production LX 450-its ultra-luxo rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser-with a 212-hp, 275-lb-ft 4.5-liter inline six. It was difficult then to distinguish the LX from the Cruiser, in either styling (``The Lexus badge in the grille is the easiest way to tell the difference'') or in driving (``Back-to-back drives... reveal little discernible difference''). Today, the LX 470 carries the Lexus mantle. Do you like gobs of leather, wood and geegaws in your ute? The LX has gadgetry and amenities for even the most demanding suburbanite. Driving it is not a chore; the same way sitting in your living room isn't tough. The V8 gives it better power, but at two-and-a-half tons, 230 hp still isn't enough.