Drew Dowdell

The Lexus GX 460 is one of those vehicles that just keeps on being sold in spite of being rather old. For 2020, the GX 460 gets a face lift, a new safety system, and an available all-new off-road package. Starting off with the styling, Lexus added a giant spindle grille to the front, apparently borrowed from the larger LX. Lexus also added Lexus Safety System+ as a standard feature across the lineup. This addition means that now all Lexus vehicles have standard active safety equipment. The Safety System+ on the GX 460 consists of Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert, Intelligent High Beams, and High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The new available off-road package offers multi-terrain monitor, panoramic view monitor, transmission cooler, fuel tank protector, crawl control, and multi-terrain select. The suspension is Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System that helps level out the vehicle in different load conditions to keep all four wheels on the ground. On-road smoothness is helped by the Adaptive Variable Suspension that uses electronically controlled shocks that can be selected to Normal, Sport, or Comfort modes depending on the driver's mood. The standard and only engine remains the same, a 4.6-liter V8 producing 301 horsepower 329 lb-ft of torque. The updated 2020 Lexus GX 460 arrives at dealerships this fall.

BMW is studying ways to give its performance M-Division special models not based on any current or former BMW. BMW has already apparently decided which class of car the models will be in, but will not reveal details on it just yet. Multiple concepts are being studied. The comments came from Markus Flasch, BMW's head of in-house tuning. Further up for debate is whether the models would be internal combustion or electric or a blend of both. Whichever form they take, the M cars would "fit our character.... a combination of precision, agility, and luxury", though they would not necessarily be positioned above the M8. Having standalone models would help BMW's M-Division better compete with Mercedes-Benz AMG

The 2020 E-Class is moving to a new base engine and at the same time, changing the base designation from E300 to E350. The updated 2.0-liter turbo-charged 4-cylinder makes slightly (14) more horsepower at 255 than the outgoing engine, and the torque stays the same at 273 lb-ft. C&D tested the old E300 and found the zero to 60 mph time to be lackluster at 6.5 second. The new engine shaves half a second off the C300 4Matic and could make similar improvements in the E350. Power is routed through a 9-speed automatic. Mercedes 4Matic can be ordered for an additional $2,500. Along with the engine change comes a base price increase of $550.