Unlike the Land Cruiser, the 2022 Lexus LX should launch in the U.S. market.
One of the most disappointing developments about the new Toyota Land Cruiser is that it won’t arrive in America — and yes, we are still a bit sore about that. No matter, though, because its luxury Lexus LX twin should, in all likelihood, make its way onto American roads. The news may be even better than that, though, as Japanese site Creative Trend offers some more insight into the next model, including a hybrid version. Mind you, as neither Toyota nor any other automaker will comment on future product, this is still well inside the rumormill…for now, at least.
“Lexus? Hybrid? Hush your mouth! I would have never guessed that,” I hear you say. Rumors persisted all the way up to the Land Cruiser’s launch (and beyond) that the new twin-turbo V6 would see a hybrid variant. That said, we didn’t end up seeing that with the Land Cruiser. However, as Creative Trend‘s piece points out — kindly translated by the Lexus Enthusiast forums — the electrified powerplant may end up as Lexus’ flagship. The ‘750h’ model, as it were, would give it a distinction over Land Cruiser, for one, and justify the Escalade-matching price tag the new LX is sure to carry.
Toyota’s global Land Cruiser does have a 3.3-liter turbodiesel V6 with 305 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.
Here’s (possibly) what to expect
That’s not to say the 2022 Lexus LX won’t have the standard 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. It will, as today’s rumormill piece points out. The engine alone should crank out somewhere around 410 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. Lexus tends to tweak their engines ever so slightly higher, as the LX 570 put out a couple more ponies than the Land Cruiser did. The real powerhouse, though, is the so-called Lexus LX 750h, which may put out 480 horsepower and — get this — 642 lb-ft of torque.
That’s quite a recipe, if it’s true. Again, we don’t know that with certainty yet, so we’ll really have to wait and see. Nonetheless, it’s an exciting prospect. Among other numbers the report mentions is a 17-inch infotainment screen using Lexus’ updated interface shown on the new NX.
According to Creative Trend, the order books will open in September 2021. From there, the new LX will actually launch in December 2021, and we’ll certainly have more official information from the automaker by then. As for whether the new Tundra will also see that hybridized powertrain — particularly as a Raptor fighter — again we’ll have to wait for Toyota to actually confirm what’s coming.
