There’s No Place Like Home. Except Perhaps Behind the Wheel of This Custom ‘Ruby Red Rims’ Lexus RX

Fashion designer Harris Reed and Lexus create ‘Ruby Red Rims,’ a Lexus inspired by Dorothy’s red slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

The Lexus RX is the automakers best-selling model. Nearly 2 million of them have been sold in the U.S. since it was released. However, we bet that you never saw one quite like this before. What you are looking at is the custom ‘Ruby Red Rims’ Lexus RX. It is the result of a collaboration between Lexus and fashion designer Harris Reed. It was recently unveiled at W Magazine’s 50th anniversary party in New York. Just incase it wasn’t obvious the inspiration for this build came from the iconic ruby red slippers that Dorothy wore in The Wizard of Oz.

The idea behind the design is what if Dorothy didn’t follow the yellow brick road? What if she followed her own path? The ‘Ruby Red Rims’ Lexus RX is meant to inspire drivers to veer off the beaten path. However, looking at the incredibly low-profile tires we wouldn’t suggest you take this SUV too far off the beaten path. Unless you don’t mind walking back. But there is no arguing the fact that the design of this custom Lexus RX certainly follows its own road.

Those Rims

The most striking aspect of ‘Ruby Red Rims’ must be the rims. “The backs of the rims are made of solid aluminum and feature gloss-sealed glitter. In the center sits the ruby core and Lexus logo, embedded in a polished ruby red color, and powered by LED lights that bring them to life. Fins reveal the ruby red color from different angles.” They won’t be very practical off-road, and we would hate to be in charge of keeping them clean. But for a show car they are a remarkable design.

2023 Lexus RX

The Lexus RX is all-new for 2023. And even with a model as popular as the RX an automaker always wants to create a buzz around a new release. This custom RX will certainly help with that. “With ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as a foundation for our all-new RX launch spot, we were excited about the possibilities of connecting our wheels to Dorothy’s ruby red slippers. The final design and thoughtful interpretation of the ‘Ruby Red Rims’ far exceeded our expectations,” said Vinay Shahani, vice president, Lexus marketing. “We are grateful for the incomparable, trailblazing designer, Harris Reed, who helped us reimagine the ruby slipper in the most striking way for W’s milestone 50th celebration.”

More To Come

Were you not invited to W Magazine’s 50th anniversary party? Don’t feel bad we weren’t either. But that is OK. You still have a chance to see ‘Ruby Red Rims’ for yourself. It will be making additional appearances throughout the U.S. later this year and in 2023. If you miss out on seeing it in person you can always order your own 2023 Lexus RX. You can order it in Matador Red Mica and then customize it any way you see fit.

Images: Lexus

Join the Club Lexus forums now!

Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.