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"You won't drink water if you buy this car"

I feel like I'm on a yacht. It goes backwards along the waterways that run like salmon. It's not even shallow water. The water depth is about 50 to 60 centimeters. You don't have to worry about drinking water up to 70cm.

Stone, gravel, sand, etc. are not visible, so they do not slip as if clutching a more dangerous river bed, but go back to the water without rushing.

When moving, the sound of water hitting the body can be heard loudly. It's a scary sound, but I'm not scared because I'm in a reliable car.

The pride of becoming a strong man who does not shake no matter what adversity comes to him comes like a rising tide all over his body

What's surprising is that it's not an authentic off-roader, but a hybrid SUV with a battery.

The steering wheel moves comfortably and lightly as if it were on a sedan, unlike the one mounted on the offloader. Tires are also more surprising, not just for off-roaders.

If you ride an authentic off-roader and "渡 River" like Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, and Mercedes-Benz G Class, it is fun but not surprising. It was more thrilling because it was not an authentic off-roader. Besides, it was so comfortable.

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Toyota's premium brand Lexus held an LX 700h media test drive at the "LX Off-road Park" in Inje, Gangwon-do, on the 20th.

The LX is the first SUV introduced by Lexus, the epitome of quietness, and was launched in the U.S. in 1996.

In line with the concept of "Effortless and Refined on Any Road", it provides a Lexus-like luxury ride not only on-road but also off-road.

It is currently sold in more than 50 countries around the world, but its domestic launch took place in 29 years. Since the 2010s, SUVs have become the trend, and demands for domestic release have been made one after another, but they have been delayed due to their popularity overseas and high prices.

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The 4th generation model, which was introduced in 2021, will be sold in Korea. The price (including 3.5% VAT) is 165.87 million won for a five-seater Overtrail specialized in off-road, 167.97 million won for a family car-oriented seven-seater luxury, and 194.57 million won for a four-seater VIP.

The fourth-generation model inherits the reliability, durability, and off-road driving performance of the existing LX while introducing a newly developed parallel hybrid system and an improved GA-F platform to implement a more sophisticated Lexus driving signature.

Regarding the difference from existing off-roaders and SUVs, Tatsuya Gonda, Lexus Assistant's chief engineer, who visited Korea for this event, said, "LX is a vehicle that realizes the philosophy of 'comfortable and elegant on any road in the world,' adding, "It provides both solid off-road performance and luxurious driving experience."

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Lexus has set up 10 courses at the venue to show off the performance of the LX 700h. It is a small slope, an underwater canal, rocks, logs, slope, uphill and downhill road, puddles, mud, rotating intersections, and footpaths.

The key system that makes off-road beginners a veteran is Multi Terrain Select, which consists of six modes: automatic, soil, sand, mud, snow, and rock.

A multi-terrain monitor that uses a total of four cameras at the front, side and back of the vehicle when driving off-road to show the surrounding road conditions through a 12.3-inch display also removes fear of off-roading.

The Transfer Ranger Select, which can change the gear of the transfer case to low end and high end depending on the situation, and the center differential lock, which is useful when one wheel is spinning due to a deep puddle or large rock, also makes the LX 700h an off-road powerhouse.

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In fact, when it comes to the course, it is a level that can be experienced even at general off-the-road events.

However, the stability and comfort felt inside the vehicle were different. Unlike off-roaders with large left and right shaking on the bumpy course, LX 700h was relatively less shaken and comfortable.

Even on a slope with a slope of nearly 30 degrees, the vehicle body did not overturn and drove stably.

This is the result of a combination of the off-road specialization system that makes even beginners a veteran and the advantages of LX 700h, which is comfortable and dignified on any road.

If a typical off-roader walks on rocks or mud without hesitation, LX 700h sought to "win-win" for comfort and dignity. The shock was offset by hugging the obstacle or sticking tightly to the obstacle.

As a result, the rock became a stepping stone, not an obstacle. Mud has transformed into licorice, a fashion item that decorates the body beautifully and adds off-road fun.

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The power is CRAWL. If underwater docks, the highlight of a typical off-road event, provided a thrill, Kroll presented the impression of his first experience.

On the course, where rocks of various sizes and shapes were arranged unevenly, the crawl operation button was pressed. If you just steer without having to pedal, you will pass slowly over the rock and pass slowly.

In other words, it is an off-road version of the "fast driving" cruise control. This is why the name "crawl" was used, which means "to crawl."

The turn assist function used in the rotation section was also coveted. Lock the rear wheels to reduce the radius of rotation. It is a useful feature not only off-road but also in a narrow parking lot.

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I have a book that stuck in my head after riding the LX 700h. It's "Kookhwa and Sword". It is a Japanese cultural study written by American cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict.

It is the first book to read when understanding Japanese culture along with Professor Lee Eo-ryeong's "Japanese with a reduction-oriented orientation."

Chrysanthemums and knives are symbols that represent two characteristics of Japanese culture (or Japanese). Although it depends on interpretation, chrysanthemums generally mean peace, art, aesthetics, and courtesy, and swords mean war, coolness, aggression, determination, accountability, etc.

For "Inner Peace," he considers the other person and admires the violent sword that stands close while enjoying "茶."

Throughout the Warring States period, which was dominated by "Karl," the inner mind (Honne) and the outer expression (Tatemae) have also changed for survival.

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In LX 700h, two extremes coexist like chrysanthemums and knives. It's toughness and comfort, charisma and kindness. If the outside is a sword, the inside is a chrysanthemum. It is Pyo-ri-bu-dong (表裏) and Oegang-nae-yu (柔 of foreign 剛).

In fact, the coexistence of the two extremes, the rough and wild off-roader and the comfortable and elegant SUV, is not easy. This is because poor coexistence is neither this nor me, so it is a shortcut to collapse.

Technology for each of the two extremes, the ability to combine, and the confidence to overcome the fear of collapse must also be equipped.

If we succeed in coexistence, we become something that everyone covets. In a culture where the values of unity and consistency of words and actions that should be the same as the outside and the inside are important, the "different and different inside" pyo-ri-bu-dong and Yul-ban offer "reversal catharsis."

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However, there is a problem. The coexistence of the two extremes leads to higher prices. It is rather comfortable not to look at it from the perspective of ordinary office workers. This is because the pain becomes greater when you crave an unattainable being.

Even for Korean car brands, the exquisite combination of the authentic off-roader and SUV is a task that has not been solved.

This is because it is recognized for its global top-level technology in sedans and SUVs, but it is an exception in the field of authentic off-roaders, one of the two requirements for an exquisite combination.