NEW YORK, USA (AFP) — Toyota has suspended production and sales of its 2010 Lexus GX 460 after a US consumer magazine issued a safety warning, in the latest blow to the embattled Japanese automaker’s reputation.

In response Toyota, late Tuesday said it asked dealers to “temporarily suspend sales of the 2010 GX 460” in the US, but insisted it was “confident that the GX meets our high safety standards.”

Toyota also asked dealers in Canada “to temporarily suspend delivery” of the same model, the company said.

Yesterday Toyota announced that it was suspending production of the sports utility vehicle from today until April 28.

“We will suspend production of the Lexus GX 460 in our Tahara plant in Japan from April 16 to 28,” a nine-day suspension excluding weekends, said Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi. Tahara is the only plant in the world that produces the model.

Toyota added it will work on identifying potential safety risks in the model, which has sold 6,000 units, as well as its other SUVs.

The automaker has recalled millions of cars worldwide since late 2009, mostly over a series of problems linked to “unintended acceleration.”

The recalls have caused an outcry in the US, with Toyota executives hauled over the coals in the US Congress and the company’s previously stellar reputation for safety left in tatters.

Toyota said it was concerned by the Consumer Reports rating and had not experienced any similar problems in its own tests. It offered to provide a loan car to concerned GX 460 owners until it had identified a remedy.

“We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue Consumer Reports identified,” Toyota said.

“Our engineering teams are vigorously testing the GX using Consumer Reports’ specific parameters to identify how we can make the GX’s performance even better.”

The company faces a record US$16.4 million fine in the US regarding faulty accelerators.

Toyota troubles are not over yet however, with the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) warning in a letter obtained Saturday by AFP that it could slap another fine on the Japanese automaker.

Of Toyota’s recalls, more than six million have been in the US, mainly for sudden acceleration problems but also for brake-system issues on some hybrid vehicles.

The beleaguered automaker recently announced it would reshape its global operations as part of efforts to “regain consumer confidence” by boosting transparency and speeding up the decision-making process for recalls.

Despite the latest blows to Toyota’s reputation, its shares closed 0.94 per cent higher at 3,740 yen in Tokyo trade Wednesday.

Prado and Lexus GX not the same vehicle — ToyoJam

Local Toyota dealer Toyota Jamaica (ToyoJam) has assured that the alleged problems leading to a ‘Dont Buy’ rating for the Lexus GX 460 do not apply to the Land Criuser Prado, a look-alike vehicle sold locally.

While Lexus GX 460 is similar in appearance to the Prado, ToyoJam marketing and sales manager Howard Foster explained that among many other features, the engine sizes are different with the Lexus having a much larger and heavier V8 drivetrain.

Foster said that the Lexus is not sold by his company adding that he has not, to date, seen any of the vehicles in the island.

“I have seen the older model but not the newer 460,” he said.

The Lexus GX 460 was introduced in 2009, adding a more powerful 4.6 Litre V8 and new interior features to the previous GX 470 model.

Targeted initially for the North American market, the Lexus GX design is focused on blending both on-road and off-road capabilities in a luxury vehicle.

The GX shares its exterior design with the Land Cruiser Prado and is based on the same platform as the 4Runner.

In the Lexus lineup, the GX is situated between the entry-level crossover RX and the premium full-size LX.

Toyota announced Tuesday that it will suspend GX 460 and sales after the highly respected consumer magazine Consumer Reports warned the public not to buy the vehicle because of fears that it could roll over on corners.

Yesterday, according to an AFP report, Toyota added that it is suspending production of the sports utility vehicle from today until April 28.

The motor company said that it will work on identifying potential safety risks in the model, which has sold 6,000 units, as well as its line up of other SUVs.