Hybrid hero! Lexus confirms LX 700h electrified petrol as hardcore off-roader goes green(ish) – your move, Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series
A 2025 update for the Lexus LX will include the model’s first hybrid powertrain, with the LX 700h to be a greener (and more luxurious) version of the diesel-chugging Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
And Lexus, keen to hammer home the point that a hybrid off-roader will be no less capable, promises the new powertrain has been “designed specifically for the strenuous demands of off-roading”.
“During development, we were determined in our commitment not to compromise the reliability, durability, and off-road performance that has defined previous LX models, even with electrification,” says Lexus International Chief Engineer, Takami Yokoo.
“For those of us who have been deeply involved with the LX over the years, electrifying it for use in demanding global environments seemed both an immense challenge and a long-held aspiration.
“Our goal was to preserve the true Lexus driving experience. The solution we reached, as a unified development team, was the development of a new parallel hybrid system along with upgrades to the GA-F platform.”
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The parallel hybrid system in question pairs a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with an electric motor housed between the engine and the 10-speed automatic gearbox, allowing for full-time 4WD.
The brand is yet to talk power or fuel figures for the system, but it sounds similar in detail to the Toyota Tundra’s iForce Max hybrid, which produces 326KW and 720Nm. Official fuel use in the Tundra is around 12L/100km but, it must be said, only in the most perfect of conditions. The real-world result is much higher.
Keeping the Lexus LX off-road reputation in check is the addition of a waterproof casing for the hybrid battery that preserves the vehicle’s 700mm wading depth, as well as a waterproofed AC inverter that powers the external power supply.
Lexus is quick to point out that none of the LX’s off-road assistance systems have been impacted, and even suggests the 4WD experience might be improved, with the 700h able to operate in electric-only mode when “conditions require precise throttle control, such as on rocky trails, chopped-up dirt roads, and in deep snow.”
The LX 700h is firmly on the table for Australia, with more details to drop closer to the model’s 2025 update.
“The LX 700h…will be considered for when the updated LX comes to Australia,” Lexus Australia said in a statement.
