The GR Yaris was so successful around the world that its engine was deemed tough enough to force North America’s largest Corolla sedan. Now, rumors suggest that this engine will also serve as the basis for a high-performance edition of a luxury vehicle: the Lexus LBX.
Recently introduced, the LBX is a premium compact crossover that has the smallest vehicle in the Lexus lineup. Based on an updated edition of the TNGA-B platform, it already shares its bases with the Toyota Yaris (although it looks more like the Cruz Yaris).
Currently, power comes from a 1. 5-liter three-cylinder hybrid engine that generates 134 hp (100 kW/136 hp). However, at a press conference last week, Lexus promised that a higher-performance edition of the LBX would be revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in January 2024, without specifying whether it is a concept or a production model.
Here’s Lexus’ brief statement, translated from Japanese: “At the Tokyo Motor Show in January 2024, we will unveil a new variant of the LBX with the strength to enjoy driving and revel in an ordinary sense of euphoria. We plan to showcase a high-performance style with a beefed-up powertrain.
Read: The new Lexus LBX debuts as the brand’s smallest model, in the Toyota Yaris Cross
While Lexus has refrained from revealing details of the powertrain, rumors suggest that styling could only include the GR Yaris’ 1. 6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which is also found in the American GR Corolla.
This would double the power of the LBX, delivering 268 hp (200 kW/272 hp), and make the crossover the first vehicle other than Toyota to use this engine. The rumor, which comes from the Japanese Mag-X, also suggests that the Lexus will wear the GR badge, for the first time for a vehicle other than Toyota.
“The high-performance edition prepared for the LBX seems to have evolved with that of the GR company,” reports Mag-X. “The GR logo, which is not intended to be engraved on Lexus cars, will be placed on the parts of the LBX. “.
It remains to be seen where this GR badge goes. For example, it’s unclear whether the vehicle will be called the GR LBX, but it may only carry the F name for Lexus functionality, with a separate badge indicating that the power is coming from Gazoo Racing in the engine or elsewhere.
In a final twist, the outlet claims that the LBX will be introduced with either a new eight-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. This would make it the first Lexus since 2013 to feature 3 pedals, according to Australian Drive.
The high-performance LBX is also expected to take advantage of the same all-wheel-drive formula as the GR Yaris, allowing drivers to shift most of the torque forward or backward. It will also have wider wheels and larger wheel arches to engage them. and other visual updates that imply it has more power.
Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on when the model will go on sale, but with a possible reveal planned for January, we may not have to wait too long to find out.