With its mighty 5.7-liter V8, body-on-frame construction, and robust four-wheel drive hardware, the Lexus LX 570 is a warrior on the paths less taken.
On-road, its quiet cabin, luxurious leather and wood trim, and array of tech conveniences make it more regal than rugged. Alpine Armoring Inc. can change that.
It fortifies the full-size SUV by completely tearing it apart first. Then it adds ballistic steel to areas such as the firewall, roof, floor, and door panels. Out back, there’s a separate ballistic steel door ahead of the rear factory liftgate and fuel tank armoring. The windows receive thick layers of armored glass that can absorb multiple rounds and has an anti-spall layer that keeps glass and ammunition fragments from flying into occupants. Ballistic steel overlaps around the doors and windows offer additional protection against unwanted intrusions of bullets and shrapnel. To handle the additional weight of all of that safety, the door hinges get beefed up. Overall, Alpine Armoring Inc.’s Level A9/B6+ package, which guards against 7.62×39, 5.56×45, 7.62×51, M193, & M80 Ball rounds, brings the LX 570’s already substantial weight up to more than four tons.
Hit the link below to see the full specs and an extensive gallery of pics of the LX before, during, and after the armoring process.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
