Sales of the Lexus GX460 SUV have been suspended in the US after it was branded a safety risk - but sales of the Toyota Land Cruiser on which it is based are not affected.
The Lexus GX460 was tested by American magazine Consumer Reports, which concluded the rear end of the car "slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability-control system was able to regain control."
Lexus responded by instructing dealers to halt sales of the 2010 model GX460 temporarily, while it investigated the complaint.
“We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue Consumer Reports indentified,” Lexus said in a statement released today.
Lexus’ engineering team are currently working to recreate the parameters of the Consumer Reports’ test and have offered a loan car to any current 2010 GX460 owners concerned about the issue.
The Lexus GX460 is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser. However, a Toyota UK spokesman confirmed that the Land Cruiser is unaffected.
Although the GX460 is not available in the UK, it is sold in the US, Middle East, Russia and Australia.
Thanks to: Autocar