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The luxury version of the Toyota Prado is set for a rugged off-road-inspired makeover to challenge the Land Rover Defender – and it appears to be bound for Australian showrooms.
The 2024 Lexus GX – the luxury twin under the skin to the top-selling Toyota Prado four-wheel-drive wagon – looks set to come to Australia for the first time with the next-generation model.
Lexus Australia issued a media bulletin tonight teasing the new-generation GX with a pair of tightly-cropped images.
The company has not confirmed plans to sell the new model in Australia, but it is highly unusual for Lexus Australia to issue a media release for a new vehicle not planned for local showrooms.
Arrival timing is yet to be disclosed, but overseas reports claim the new GX may go into production by the end of this year – ahead of the new-generation Toyota Prado, which is due next year.
The Toyota luxury division has held a trademark in Australia for ‘Lexus GX550’ since the end of 2021.
The Lexus GX has historically been closely related to the Toyota Prado, with different front-end styling, a tweaked rear design, a more luxurious cabin with unique features, and petrol V8 power instead of a turbo-diesel four-cylinder, or non-turbo petrol four-cylinder or V6.
But until now it has been built only in left-hand drive – and focused on the US market, where the Toyota Prado is not sold.
The teaser images published by Lexus preview a more hardcore, off-road-ready look than the current GX, with prominent flared wheel arches, muscular bonnet bulges, and bold LED headlights.
It suggests it may not be as closely related to the Toyota Prado as the current model, with all-new bodywork adopting a more rugged appearance – leaving the Prado to retain a softer look evolved from the outgoing, 14-year-old model.
Although it may wear different bodywork, it is expected to remain related to the next-generation Toyota Prado under the skin.
The Lexus GX550 trademark is believed to point to a detuned version of the 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 from the full-size Lexus LX, and overseas versions of its Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series twin.
Power and torque outputs are yet to be confirmed, but they are expected to decrease slightly on the 305kW/650Nm of the Lexus LX600.
It is expected there will be the option of hybrid power, which could use a version of the Lexus RX500h’s 270kW combination of a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motors.
This configuration is also slated for the new-generation Toyota Tacoma – the US counterpart to the Toyota HiLux – due for unveiling next week, which is expected to be related under the skin to the new Toyota Prado and Lexus GX.
However, it is unclear if diesel power will be an option in the Lexus GX.
Reports out of Japan have speculated the Prado will be offered with a 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 from the LandCruiser 300 Series – or a version of the current 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, which could be augmented by hybrid technology.
It is no guarantee either of these engines would be offered in the Lexus GX – as it and the Prado have historically not shared engines, and no previous GX has been available with diesel power.
If it comes to local showrooms, the GX would serve as Lexus Australia’s family-oriented seven-seat vehicle below the flagship LX, as the RX large SUV will not be available with seven seats in its new generation – and the upcoming Lexus TX, a new seven-seater based on a stretched version of the Toyota Kluger, is not expected to be made in right-hand drive.
The new 2024 Lexus GX is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, though a specific debut date is yet to be announced.
Adding to the likelihood of a local arrival for the Lexus GX: last month Lexus Australia issued a similar surprise media bulletin teasing the new-generation Lexus LM people mover, which had never been offered in Australia, nor built in right-hand drive.
A week later the vehicle was unveiled in full in China – and announced as coming to Australian showrooms for the first time.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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