Lexus GXOR Concept is Perfect for Touring Alaska
The Lexus GXOR shows that for rugged off-road adventuring, the Japanese luxury vehicle brand is an entirely appropriate, if not unusual, choice.
A Lexus SUV built for the exploration business
This is a Lexus SUV, but not in the fashion that you would expect. A design study commissioned by Lexus to test the brand's GX-series SUV as a true overlanding platform, the GXOR (GX off-road concept) is a Lexus that you could drive from Baja to the tip of Alaska, in one go.
Tracing its 'Cruiser roots
The Lexus GXOR badging is subtle, but the concept for this SUV is entirely obvious. With its GX-series SUV, Lexus effectively rebrands a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado with some different styling bits and more luxury trim. And in most of the world, the Land Cruiser Prado is known as a hardcore 4x4 SUV that does not turn around when the terrain becomes technical.
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Showing what an SUV can actually do
With its GXOR concept, Lexus wishes to show its brand followers what an SUV is actually capable of. Some GX owners might use their vehicles for light trail duty or some snow-driving in winter. But these ladder-frame Lexus SUVs are capable of so much more.
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Making the best - better
If you are going to make a Lexus SUV that can confidently tour solo to places where there is no mechanical support, rescue service or mobile phone signal - what caliber of upgrades are required?
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Keeping you rolling along in any terrain
Tires are a crucial upgrade when building any overlander vehicle. To ensure durability over the most testing terrain, not to mention the required grip and some additional air-volume for ride comfort, the Lexus GXOR rolls some substantial rubber. Huge General Grabber X3s tires, measuring 275/70, are mounted on 18-inch wheels.
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Taming the terrain
Tires are important, but they need good support and that is where a suspension upgrade proves its worth - especially when conditions get tricky. As such, the Lexus GXOR rides on a special edition Icon damper set-up, which features high-capacity oil reservoirs, aluminum billet control arms, and delta joints. What might bottom-out a standard GX suspension's stroke depth, won't trouble the GXOR edition vehicle.
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Underbody protection is important
You can't keep going further on an off-road adventure if you puncture the engine sump or damage the front differential. To keep those exposed mechanical casings safe, the GXOR has additional gearbox and engine protection, as well as rock sliders.
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The most capable Lexus you could imagine
The exterior styling upgrades are not merely there for show. That huge snorkel helps the GXOR's engine to breathe colder air on a warm day and filter out dust in desert conditions. And taking pride of place on the front bumper is a Warn 9.5 XPS winch, which is there to extricate the GXOR if nobody else is around to offer a snatch-rope and recovery vehicle. With its impressive tow-rating, the GXOR has no issue hauling along an off-road grade trailer either, with additional supplies - for those very long journeys into the unknown.
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A Lexus for the adventurous individual
Beyond its tremendous off-road ability, thanks to those tire and suspension upgrades, the Lexus GXOR is also wonderfully self-sufficient. It has a 160-Watt solar roof panel and with an Icom 5100A radio set, you'll be able to call for help from places where a Smartphone simply doesn't work. Plenty of storage in the rear too, thanks to a customer drawer system in the rear. And there is a fridge and gas-stove inside the cab so you don't have to eat awful meals.
>>Join the conversation about the Lexus GXOR right here in the ClubLexus forum.
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