xsfo

This is probably a repeat but check out the interior shots of the Japanese Harrier.
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All.../interior.html

I see a navigation unit with map AND 3-D point of view mode.
Push buttons for TV(!), Disc (CD or Minidisc I guess) and Tape
Tiptronic type shifters on the steering wheel
Silver accent interior

Any hope for a more advanced nav unit in 2003?
And I miss the Silversport interior.

MarioRX300

yeah and why cant we get steptronic????

spinteews

ya, i'd love all that stuff too, why dont we get it!!! stupid America

look on the bright side, we get leather no matter what...

Harrier

We don't get fancy 3-d maps because of size constraints. I'm talking about the amount of data that can be stored on a single dvd. Keep in mind that the US is several times the size of Japan. So, since the Harrier only has to deal with maps for cities and provinces in Japan, it can include very detailed information.

As for the TV option... ever park your car on LA's glorious freeways during rush hour? Gets pretty boring. In Japan, traffic is notorious. So, to combat the boredom (and, frankly, to keep motorists from going ape*****), cars are offered with a TV tuner. Can your average Joe Schmoe be able to watch TV and drive at the same time? Ha! I'd take public transportation if that ever happened.

-Jon

xsfo

I'm sorry but with 9.4 gb of possible storage on the DVD (it's dual layer) and we can't get 3D maps of just SELECTED cities?

I think it's more an issue of cost of data and the nav unit brains. As consumers we should expect more and Lexus to deliver it. The cost premium to get the navigation option is so high to begin with we should get the best there is. Case in point, he Alpine DVD navigation unit NVE-N852A costs a little less than the factory option and seems as good if not better than factory nav. Oh well, time to get an Infiniti. How you like them apples Lexus?

Handogen

I think it has something to do with Japan and Europe getting the latest stuff months and/or years ahead of the US... It'll come, just wait

-Hando

NVMYGS3

It sucks to say this but the US is behind in technology because of all the appropriations due to lawsuits and stuff here.

Everything has to be tested over and over and there's so much politics with distribution and cannibalization of other lines as well as tarrifs and taxes we end up with last last last years worth of stuff always. Sucks.

I wanted to buy a nav kit for my car from Japan and a mechanic here said something about incompatibility with my car because of the rule that you can't drive with a video option on because you can sue lexus if you get in a car wreck blaming the mobile video.