Say hello to the new Lexus GX. With twin-turbo V6 power, a luxurious interior, and a full suite of off-road technology, it hasn’t been locked in for Australia just yet… but CarExpert expects it will make the journey Down Under.
The 3.4-litre petrol V6 makes 260kW of power and 650Nm of torque, mated with an 10-speed automatic transmission.
Hybrid power has been confirmed for the GX, but it won’t be offered at launch.
We know it’ll feature a 2.4-litre turbo petrol engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission; based on that information it’s likely it will be derived from the setup in the RX500h F Sport Performance.
In that car it packs 273kW of power, thanks to the combination of a 202kW/460Nm petrol engine and two electric motor generators making 64kW/292Nm (front) and 76kW/169Nm (rear).
Regardless of which model you opt for, the GX will have full-time four-wheel drive, a low-range transfer case, and a locking central differential. The tougher Overtrail will also pick up a locking rear differential.
Under the skin, the GX rides on a version of the TNGA-F platform that also underpins the latest Toyota LandCruiser 300.
Its 2850mm wheelbase mirrors that of the larger LX600, although at 5004mm long, 2114mm wide (incl. mirrors), and up to 1935mm tall; the GX is actually 96mm shorter in the body… but slightly taller.
Braked towing capacity in the USA is 3628kg for the GX550 Premium and Premium+, along with the Overtrail and Overtrail+.
The GX550 Luxury and Luxury+ will be able to tow 3170kg and 3075kg respectively, whether those measurements translate to Australia remains to be seen.
Lexus says body rigidity has been improved, and the standard suspension setup is double wishbones up front and multi-link at the rear. An adaptive variable suspension system is on offer.
Inside, the new GX has taken a huge step forward on the luxury front.
The central touchscreen is a 14-inch unit as standard, backed by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. Lexus says it has retained physical dials for all the key bits and pieces you need to poke and prod on the move (or off the road) are still controlled by physical controls.
Seven- and six-seat configurations are on offer, with improved legroom and toe room across all three rows. The second row tumbles and folds to provide access for rearmost passengers, and the third row is offered with either manual or powered folding.
Six charging points are offered to keep the kids’ devices fully charged, and there are 12 cupholders.
A 10-speaker sound system is standard in the USA, with a 21-speaker system optional on higher-end cars.
A full suite of driver assists will be offered, as you’d expect, ranging from autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist for highway driving, to off-road assists such as crawl control and a 3D surround-view monitor.
What do you think of the new Lexus GX?
