Tinkering with the former LX 470, Lexus certainly did not need to raise the bar on an already-impressive SUV. The new incarnation, the LX 570, is an off-road warrior with the pomp and circumstance (read: leather and high-tech goodies) expected from Toyota's luxury brand.

For years the Toyota Land Cruiser was thought of as the go-to guy for full-sized off-road prowess. Everything on the "Cruiser" was big and that suited Lexus just fine. It was only 10 years ago that Lexus re-badged the Land Cruiser and created something capable of competing with the Land Rover brand.

I really like the exterior design cues of the new LX 570. Making a vehicle this size look anything other than enormous and bulky is tough -- but Lexus and their L-finesse design adaptations give the LX 570 an aggressive and athletic stance.

Monster 20-inch, 10-spoke rims are wrapped by 285/50R20 mud and snow tires. You wouldn't want to lose traction in this SUV, and with these treads digging in, and the four-wheel-drive system plugging away full-time, you won't.

This new eight-passenger LX 570 is bigger (4 inches longer, 1 inch wider) than the 470. This bodes well for interior space and the configuring of seats for utility purposes. One of my favo0rite features on my LX 570 tester was the ease that seating was moved about inside the cabin. Power-sliding second-row seats as well as power-folding third-row seats make "making room" as easy as pressing a button. The seats move fast and slip into neutral positions creating ample additional utility space for storage.

At a base of $73,800, you sort of expect to be wrapped in cozy convenience and luxury is ample in the LX 570 cabin. Supple leather seating and trim, real wood accents and a list of standard power features are longer than the SUV itself. Four-zone controls give everyone the option for custom climate comfort while delivering front row power seating and memory options.

High-tech gadgetry like Bluetooth, a rear-view camera and one of the industry's best Navigation systems, make long trips a breeze in the LX 570. My tester had a couple interior options worth mentioning. First, the climate controlled seats ($890) blow cool or hot air to the front seats; this was great in the summer when leather can get sticky.

A Technology Package ($4,200) was a stunner with outlandish audio quality delivered via a Mark Levinson 19-speaker system. A rear entertainment system was an appreciated add-on ($1,990) for the kids.

When it comes time to tame the gravel roads or wintry conditions, the LX 570 can cope with its 5.7-liter V-8 engine, a new six-speed sequential shift transmission mated to a full-time four-wheel-drive system. The new engine meets ULEV II emissions standards and compared to the LX 470, it has the same fuel efficiency with more ponies at 381 horespower.

The LX 570 is a capable towing SUV. Lexus says 90 percent of the 400 pound-feet of torque are available at just 2200 rpm. With an impressive towing capacity of 8,500 pounds, it is easy to see why you often see boats and power toys behind the big Lexus.

Road trips are not a concern for the driver or passengers in a Lexus LX 570. The Electro-Hydraulic suspension system features Active Ride Height Control and Adaptive Variable Suspension. This system can raise the body three inches when the transfer case is shifted into the low range. Chassis roll can be reduced by as much as by 30 percent.

Topping out at $82,880, the LX 570 tester had a bevy of safety features that clearly made this a vehicle any family might like to tool around town in. Not to be outdone, the LX 570 has no less than 10 airbags and active front headrests. A pre-collision system with adaptive cruise control makes sure no matter how comfortable you may get on the highway, you never bump into anyone around you.

A multi-terrain anti-lock braking system technology is new for Lexus and it helps reduce stopping distances on slippery surfaces. Besides the rear-view camera available to the driver, another impressive option was a blind corner monitoring system. Featuring cameras in the front grille and under the passenger side mirror, it is easy for the driver to check tough blind spots around the vehicle with the push of a button.

If you have, oh, say, $80K to toss around for sure-footed elegance and a luxury sedanlike ride in a giant SUV, no doubt the Lexus LX 570 is right at the top of that list. And if it weren't, I'd love to drive whatever it is you have up there ahead of it.