Lexus has come to the Tokyo show last week with a concept car dubbed Morizo RR, essentially an LBX model swapped to a 1.6-liter turbo three-pot and named after ex-CEO, now-Chairman Akio Toyoda.
Nothing has been said regarding production plans, so we are going with the assumption that it’s a one-off. The car runs on the same powertrain as the just-introduced GR Yaris facelift, pumping out 304 PS (300 hp / 224 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels. A purpose-designed eight-speed automatic transmission delivers the momentum to the wheels with high efficiency.
Like its hot hatch cousin, the LBX is a four-wheel drive car. Whether it uses the same inter-wheel differentials as the Yaris is not specified, though.
A glance at the exterior reveals a redesigned front end, new 19-inch wheels, a different rear diffuser and paired exhaust tips, as well as yellow highlights all around.
Morizo is Akio Toyoda’s informal nickname. According to rumors, the retired company CEO personally approved this build.
As for the stock Lexus LBX, it is a premium crossover utility vehicle that shares the platform with the Toyota Yaris Cross and only has one powertrain available for it thus far. A 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine teams up with a small electric motor to output 136 PS (134 hp / 100 kW) and 185 Nm (136 lb-ft) of torque.