Toyota soured the mood of many of its U.S. fans when it revealed that the next-generation Toyota Land Cruiser was not coming to the U.S. due to evolving segment needs (as well as sluggish sales.) While that particular off-roading icon is not coming to the U.S, luxury brand Lexus has delivered a very potent consolation prize and revealed that the 2022 Lexus LX600 would be coming stateside.
A Land Cruiser In Platform Only, an LX600 In All The Right Places
With the venerable Toyota Land Cruiser serving as its core basis, it should come as no surprise that the LX600 is using much of the same hardware with the LX600 being underpinned by the familiar TNGA-F platform, which retains old-school body-on-frame construction but blends it with a modern double-wishbone front suspension and a four-link solid rear axle. Power is handled by the same 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged V6 that also sees duty in the Land Cruiser and the Tundra pickup. Like those two, the Land Cruiser’s boosted six produces 409 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, and the engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic.
The engine serves as the end of the road for V8-powered LX models, but we suspect that customers will appreciate the enhanced fuel economy that both the engine and the 10-speed bring to the table. But don’t be fooled by the LX600’s newfound love affair with green motoring because this is still a very capable trail buster that can go where many other SUVs can only dream of going.
Conquering The Trail And Still Being A Luxury Oasis
As mentioned, the LX600 is all about trailblazing, and lit still has the goods when it comes to completing this rudimentary task. The fore-mentioned suspension is enhanced by electronically adjusted ride height as well as tunable suspension stiffness. Like other LXs we have seen, the suspension can be tailored to several settings, including a low mode for easier access inside the LX600 and two different off-road modes for tailored off-road capability. This beast is also loaded with innovative off-road technology, including Crawl Control, multiple cameras that even show you what’s going on under the LX at any given time, as well as numerous terrain modes.
The exterior styling is a gradual evolution over the old LX, and the bulk of the changes are reserved for the interior. Slip inside, and you’ll discover that the interior has finally received the much-needed love and attention that it has been begging for. Lexus engineers have dragged out the dated infotainment system and in its place is an all-new dual-screen infotainment system. The upper 12.3-inch screen is where the bulk of the action is at, with this screen handling the audio, navigation settings, vehicle settings, and other crucial information. The lower screen is a smaller 7.3-inch screen, and this screen exclusively covers climate and comfort functions.
Like other luxury SUVs, the LX600 exudes detail, with the interior featuring materials such as rich leather, real wood trim, and splashes of metal trim. Lexus will field a wide variety of LX models. Still, the spotlight will shine on an “Ultra Luxury” variant that will be targeting models such as the Mercedes-Maybach GLS600, with the standard rear seats being swapped out for a pair of comfortable captain’s chairs. This naturally reduces seating to four, but Lexus claims that an LX in this configuration is the ultimate limo. As expected from such an offering, rear passengers are treated with class and can take advantage of a re-worked center console that houses an extensive suite of controls. They can even move the front passenger seat to get some extra space to stretch out and relax.
When Can I Buy A 2022 Lexus LX600?
Today, Lexus didn’t reveal pricing for the 2022 Lexus LX600, but the brand confirmed that the LX600 would make its way to U.S. showrooms early next year. It’s not known which flavor of LX will make it to dealers first, but look for the full launch to be completed in the middle part of 2022.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.