Toyota has built the Gazoo Racing sub-brand into a formidable beast, and its talents aren’t only being exploited at the home brand. New spy shots reveal that, following the GR Yaris Morizo RR and the LBX Morizo RR, the Lexus RX is getting the hardcore treatment. Vehicles bearing this badge are much more extreme than normal, and a GR Corolla Morizo RR will prove that soon, but will the mid-size SUV have what it takes to steal sales from the BMW X5 M? That remains to be seen, but based on this prototype, things are looking promising.
Lexus RX Morizo RR Wears Chunky Rubber
Autoblog/SH Proshots
The Autoblog spy photographers were able to get close enough to this development mule that they could identify its rubber: 265/40ZR21 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires in front, with the same species in 295/35 width and a matching 21-inch diameter. Behind the sporty multi-spoke wheels lie ventilated and drilled brake discs clamped down on by Brembo calipers. This vehicle likely hasn’t done any serious driving yet, as the wheels still bear their protective film, but given the camber angles on both axles, we expect the RX Morizo RR to follow the example of its namesakes and be highly agile after some tours of the Nordschleife. The other obvious clue that this is no normal RX is on each corner, where more aggressive wheel arch surrounds aim to swallow up what is likely a wider-than-normal track. At the rear, these arches extend into the side skirts, while at the front, they are cut short by the door. Further forward, an aggressive Spindle grille with additional inlet holes, borrowed from the RX 500h F Sport Performance, suggests higher cooling demands. Even the hood appears to be slightly different, potentially hinting at the future introduction of a power bulge.
Autoblog/SH Proshots
Granted, that may be a little tacky, but according to our spies, the RX Morizo RR will produce north of 600 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors on both axles, granting all-wheel drive. For the record, the current X5 M Competition produces 617 horsepower, while the Audi RS Q8 produces up to 631 hp in ‘performance’ (Audi likes lowercase suffixes) guise. However, we have a long wait ahead of us before we can see just how competitive Lexus will be, as a release date is only said to be scheduled for 2028. By then, the RX’s styling, even with F Sport Performance bumpers and larger exhaust tips, may start to look a little too dated.
Autoblog’s Take
Autoblog/SH Proshots
The Lexus RX Morizo RR appears to be a mid-to-late-cycle way for Lexus to take high-performance luxury SUVs more seriously, but since this fifth-generation RX arrived back in 2022, Lexus will need something to tide it over. To that end, a facelifted RX with a new infotainment setup is reportedly coming next year, bringing suspension tweaks and better power steering tuning. Frustratingly, our spies didn’t take any photos of the cabin, but since this is our first sighting of an RX Morizo RR, and since the exterior upgrades look like placeholder items, the interior is likely nothing new, still based on a contemporary RX. If Lexus can make this thing handle well despite what will likely be a significant curb weight figure, it’ll provide a more serious answer to German rivals. Toyota and Lexus will be hoping that they can set a foundation for future incursions into their premium territories.
Autoblog/SH Proshots
