- Lexus reveals updated LX with new hybrid powertrain for $115,350
- Chassis reinforcements to support hybrid powertrain promise to improve steering and stability
- Updated Lexus LX also gains rugged Overtrail grade
Lexus on Thursday introduced a new hybrid powertrain to the LX full-size SUV for the 2025 model year, marking the first time Lexus’ largest vehicle largest vehicle has featured electrification.
The base hybrid model is also the new Overtrain grade, and it will cost $115,350 including a $1,350 destination charge when it arrives in early 2025.
The hybrid powertrain stars in a new flagship model dubbed the LX 700h, and consists of a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 paired with an electric motor sitting between the engine and the LX’s standard 10-speed automatic transmission. Drive goes to all four wheels via a four-wheel-drive system with a 2-speed transfer case.
Unlike other Lexus hybrids, the powertrain in the LX 700h features a conventional starter motor and alternator, instead of relying solely on the hybrid system’s electric motor to handle those tasks. This was done, Lexus said, to ensure the vehicle can still function in the event of the hybrid system failing, which is important when you’re out on a distant trail.
The same powertrain features in Toyota’s Tundra and Sequoia models, where it produces a combined 437 hp, but the Lexus LX 700h is rated at 457 hp and 583 lb-ft. Toyota’s pickup and SUV are close cousins of the LX, including sharing the same GA-F body-on-frame platform.
The current LX was introduced for the 2022 model year and at present is offered exclusively in LX 600 guise. This model comes with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 good for 409 hp.
Other changes made to the LX for 2025 include a new Overtrail grade. Similar to the Overtrail grade offered in the smaller GX, the LXÂ Overtrail grade adds front and rear differential locks, and 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires (another first for an LX). It also adds unique design details like gloss black exterior accents, an available Moon Desert exterior paint finish, and an available interior color and trim theme called Monolith.
Lexus said it also made some reinforcements to the chassis to accommodate the hybrid powertrain, which has the added benefit of improving overall rigidity and as a result improved steering feel and handling stability. The engine mounts were reinforced to handle the increased weight of the powertrain. Lexus also introduced a new cross member and relocated the spare tire to accommodate the battery beneath the rear floor. Additionally, the standard 12-volt auxiliary battery was shifted to the side of the rear deck, from its former home in the engine bay, with a new brace for the battery further enhancing rigidity. The radiator support was also made more robust, and a sturdier instrument panel brace was added as well.
A phased rollout across various regions is scheduled to begin late this year from its Yoshiwara Plant in Japan.
