Technology and power continue to be driving factors in luxury vehicles. Manufacturers are upgrading power plants, adding new technology and new convenience features at a brisk pace.

Increases in horsepower and improved ride characteristics have been embraced; the new technology upgrades are welcomed by some and complicate things for others.

For 2010, Lexus has upgraded the LX 570 luxury SUV with new navigation, audio, safety and entertainment systems and carried over the powertrain.

Technology enhancements are the main focus for 2010 with an upgrade of the navigation system, the addition of Lexus Enform, voice command casual-language voice recognition and Bluetooth phonebook download. Additional upgrades include improvements to the optional wide-view front and side monitor screen. The Lexus navigation system comes available with XM NAV traffic/weather/sports/stocks functionality.

The Lexus Enform and Safety Connect response center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lexus Enform is only offered on navigation-equipped vehicles and offers Destination Assist and eDestination. Destination Assist operators are available via the onboard cellular equipment and can help you find a location, including Zagat-rated restaurants. They will send the directions to the navigation system for routing.

The eDestination function allows you to select and sort locations in advance online through LexusDrivers.com and save them in up to 20 folders with 10 destinations in each folder. You send the locations to your vehicle, where you can then download the information into the navigation system and have it direct you to your destination(s).

Safety Connect is available on both non-navigation and navigation-equipped vehicles and offers four safety and security features: automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, an emergency assistance button (SOS) and enhanced roadside assistance, which adds GPS data to the already included warranty-based Lexus roadside service.

Lexus Enform is a complimentary, opt-in service that provides vehicle audio casts enabling access to vehicle use and maintenance tips, event information and owners’ benefits. Lexus says this feature enhances the ownership experience. I think it’s more of a commercial and more clutter vying for your attention.

Great sounds are part of the luxury experience with the Lexus Premium Sound System that features an integrated satellite radio receiver, iPod/USB connectivity and streaming music via Bluetooth. Cranking up the system I was able to use the quietness of the interior and crank up the well-balanced system and absorb the music.

If you travel with kids, I recommend the optional rear seat entertainment that adds 3-D icons and LED backlight to enhance display and layout. While this type of feature is not new, the new tweaks are welcome and it will help with kids and enhance the vehicle’s trade-in value.

I – along with the family – found the interior to be luxurious and comfortable with great materials, fit and finish, but the vehicle did not really distinguish itself from the competition. There is enough room for eight, but like most third-row SUVs the rear seats are for kids. Headroom is decent but cargo capacity is lacking with only 83.1 cubic feet.

The LX 570 is a traditional body-on-frame SUV and its ride belies the vehicle’s immense size. Body-on-frame platforms serve off-roaders well but are usually not well suited for everyday on-road driving.

Lexus strikes a balance with an electrohydraulic system with a four-wheel active height control and an adaptive variable suspension. The system is immediate without any lag time so it adjusts to road conditions quickly to smooth things out for passengers. The technology in the LX’s suspension system is a combination of sophisticated shocks, springs and tuning to help achieve comfortable travel over a variety of road surfaces.

The LX 570 greets the pavement with 20-inch alloy wheels shod with 285/50R20 rubber.

Lexus claims the LX 570 suspension system reduces body sway by more than 30 percent and suppresses dive and squat during cornering, braking or acceleration. I did not notice any of these during driving.

One standout feature drivers will appreciate is the adaptive variable suspension system, which reacts to variable road conditions by responding to different inputs and adjusts shock absorber damping force as conditions require. AVS provides three modes to control the spring rate and shock absorber damping force. The comfort mode returns a softer ride on harsh roads; normal and sport modes help provide progressively greater levels of control for driving. The sport mode works best on the new, smooth pavement that has been laid down on area roads earlier this year.

The brakes on a 5,995-pound vehicle need to be stout and they are on the LX, with good pedal feel. The steering is a bit over boosted but reacts quickly.

Under the hood things are unchanged with the 5.7-liter V-8 delivering 383 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and peak torque of 403 pound-feet at 3,600 rpm. Power is good with towing up to 8,500 pounds and good acceleration – the problem is fuel economy.

With a six-speed automatic transmission the LX “achieves” mileage numbers of 12 mpg city and 18 highway – don’t expect to improve on those numbers much.

For 2010 Lexus added some technology to the LX 570 and only raised the base price by $500 to $76,405.

2010 LEXUS LX 570

ENGINE: 383-horsepower 5.7-liter V-8

TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic

DRIVETRAIN: four-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 12 city/18 highway

BASE PRICE: $76,405

WEB SITE: Lexus.com