1997 Lexus SLV

Lexus revealed its Sport Luxury Vehicle (SLV) concept on February 6, 1997, at the Chicago Auto Show. The SLV was a vision of a new blend of mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) for the driving enthusiast. At the show, company executives confirmed that Lexus would introduce a volume production model based on the SLV in the near future. The prototype predicted the styling and features that would appear on the Lexus RX 300. As an entirely new concept combining luxury sport sedans and SUVs, no comparable product existed on the market in 1997. Aggressive 17-inch wheels and tires and a rugged vertical bar grille design suggest the SLV’s tenacious traction. Low step-in height and low overall height ensure convenient entry. Based on the Lexus ES 300 near-luxury sedan and employing unibody construction, the SLV was powered by an all-aluminum 3.0-liter 24-valve V-6, featuring continuously variable valve timing (VVTi), a first for any V-6 engine.

Source: www.chicagoautoshow.com