2024 Lexus GX likely a sell-out

The 2024 Lexus GX 550 is almost certain to be a sell-out success even before it arrives in Australia in mid-2024.

Speaking at the US launch of the all-new large luxury off-road SUV in Tucson, Arizona, this week, Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas said local GX supplies will be limited to just 1250 units this year and the company had already received more than 1000 expressions of interest – a pre-sales record for the Japanese luxury auto brand Down Under.

He declined to reveal Australia’s production allocation for subsequent years, but said “it’s possible” that all vehicles will be sold before the GX’s official release.

“The expression of interest we already have gives me no concern,” said Pappas. “This car is going to do really well.

“I think this is going to be a restricted-supply vehicle. I don’t think there’s going to be enough.

“With over 1000 [EOIs] at this early stage in the pre-sales period I already think this car will be in tight supply.”

The third generation of Lexus GX since 2002 and the first to be sold in Australia will again be based on the Toyota Prado, which will follow it on sale locally in the second half of this year.

Australia will be the only market to receive all four GA-F ladder-frame-based large SUVs – the Lexus LX and GX, and the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado 250 Series.

Three versions of the Lexus GX 550 have been confirmed for Australian release – Luxury, Sports Luxury and the off-road-focused Overtrail – with pricing expected to start above the LC300 (from $94,301) but well under that of the larger LX (from $151,561) at around $110,000.

The model that Lexus is nominating as the GX 550’s most direct competitor – the Land Rover Defender 110 – is priced from under $92,000.

In the first 12 months, Lexus Australia is forecasting a sales split of 20 per cent for the mid-range Overtrail, 35 per cent for the flagship Sports Luxury and 45 per cent for the entry-level Luxury.

But Pappas admitted demand for the hard-core Overtrail, which looks less Lexus-like than any previous model from Toyota’s premium brand, could be much higher than first anticipated.

“That’s our planning volume at the moment but Overtrail could be a lot more than 20 per cent,” he said. “There will be people attracted to the Overtrail that don’t go off-road because it’s got the look.

“Our current product portfolio has limited us in who we can talk to. This broadens our customer base a lot more now, but when you drive it you’ll know it’s a Lexus.”

Unlike the LX, LandCruiser and upcoming Prado, the GX won’t be available with diesel power but will eventually be offered with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol hybrid system – which will become the sole powertrain choice from 2030, when Lexus goes all-hybrid.

For now, all 2024 Lexus GX 550 variants will come with a detuned version of the LX’s twin-turbo 3.4-litre petrol V6, making 260kW of power over 4800-5200rpm, and 650Nm of torque from 2000-3600rpm.

All GXs also get a 10-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels though a full-time 4WD system with low-range gearing and a locking centre differential.

But while the base Luxury and the adventure-focused Overtrail offer a class-leading 3500kg towing capacity (the Sports Luxury is limited to 3130kg), and both the Luxury and Sports Luxury come with seven seats as standard, the Overtrail is strictly a five-seater.

Standard equipment for the Lexus GX 550 Luxury in Australia includes 20-inch alloy wheels including a full-size spare, integrated trailer wiring harness and tow hitch receiver, a powered tailgate with flip-up rear glass window, auto-levelling LED headlights, rear privacy glass, rear spoiler and flush roof rails.

Inside, there’s a pair of push-button folding third-row seats, black or dark grey leather-accented upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control and heated/ventilated and eight-way power-adjustable front seats.

Multimedia for all three GXs includes a 14-inch infotainment touch-screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 10-speaker audio, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, colour head-up display, wireless phone charger, 220-volt rear power outlet and five USB-C ports.

And the Lexus Safety Sense package includes nine airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and panoramic view monitor.

The range-topping Sports Luxury also comes with seven seats but adds 22-inch alloys, adaptive high-beam headlights, auto-extending side steps, a fixed panoramic roof, higher-grade semi-aniline leather-accented trim, unique dashboard finish, digital rear-view mirror, multi-colour ambient interior illumination, massaging front seats, refrigerated centre storage unit, 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound, a heated steering wheel and Adaptive Variable Suspension damping.

In between the Luxury and Sports Luxury is the Overtrail, bringing mechanical upgrades including a locking rear diff, black 18-inch alloy wheels with Toyo all-terrain tyres, electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (eKDSS), Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) off-road traction control, Multi-Terrain Monitor, multi-stage Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control and a larger alternator to run ancillaries.

Aesthetically, the Overtrail also adds unique bumpers, extended wheel-arch mouldings, bridge-type roof rails, black exterior trim elements, the option of four two-tone paint colours with a black roof, Olive Green Ultrasuede accents and stitching on the front seats, plus other unique interior highlights, stiffer seat bases with softer side bolsters, a cool box and smart key card.

Watch this space for our first review of the 2024 Lexus GX 550 on Thursday, February 8.

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