GR Corolla-Powered Lexus LBX ‘Highly Likely’ to Enter Production: Report
The one-off hot hatch version of the Lexus LBX seems like it may ultimately make it to production, after all.
This past January at the 2024 Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus dropped a bit of a bombshell in the form of the LBX Morizo RR Concept, a hot hatch variant of the LBX – which is sold in select markets outside of the U.S. However, while the production Lexus LBX is essentially just a luxurious version of the Toyota Yaris Cross – a tiny machine powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter inline-three-cylinder engine making a mere 136 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque – the Morizo RR Concept utilizes the same powerplant as the GR Yaris and the GR Corolla – the G16E-GTS turbocharged 1.6-liter I-3, which in this guise generates an impressive 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. While it seemed quite unlikely that this concept would ever see the light of day, a new report indicates that a performance-focused version of the Lexus LBX is, in fact, going to become a reality.
“You would have seen the Morizo RR concept, [with a] 1.6-liter turbo – that is very exciting for us,” Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas told the media at that country’s Lexus LBX launch, according to Drive. “Although it’s not confirmed for Australia, we will be putting our hand up if it does become available for Australia.” When asked if the LBX Morizo RR is likely for production, Pappas added “highly likely, but not confirmed.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the tea leaves have suggested that a hotter version of the Lexus LBX is in the works, either. In fact, during a promo video for the LBX Morizo RR Concept that was released early this year, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda said “this is the new LBX, we are selling it from the end of the year [2023]. This one will be next year,” he added, referring to the concept.
It’s worth noting that not only is Toyoda the one calling the proverbial shots here, but also, the LBX Morizo RR Concept is quite literally named after him, as “Morizo” is the known enthusiast’s pseudonym on the racing circuit. In addition to that, rumors have suggested that Toyoda has also been tooling around in the concept itself as his personal ride of choice as of late.
Given the fact that the Lexus LBX isn’t currently sold in the U.S., it seems unlikely that we’ll see this ultra-cool hot hatch land stateside, but the mere suggestion that the luxury brand seems set to bring it to fruition is obviously tremendous news for enthusiasts in other parts of the world. After all, hot hatches, in general, have largely gone the way of the dinosaur in recent years, and even if the hotter LBX isn’t packing a manual gearbox (the concept utilizes an eight-speed automatic), the mere fact that it has a chance at production is certainly good enough for us.
Photos: Lexus
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