2024 Lexus GX: New Toyota Prado’s luxury sibling likely for Australia – UPDATE: Teased again

UPDATE, 6 June 2023: Lexus has published what may be the final teaser image of the 2024 Lexus GX four-wheel-drive ahead of its unveiling on Friday morning, Australian time.

The latest image shows more of the GX’s front end, affirming the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class inspiration seen in earlier teaser images.

For everything we know so far about the Lexus GX – and see an artist’s impression of its full design – click here to read our story published earlier this week.

MORE: 2024 Lexus GX imagined – Toyota Prado luxury twin to offer hybrid, turbo-petrol V6 power

UPDATE, 25 May 2023: The latest teaser for the 2024 Lexus GX confirms Japan’s newest luxury four-wheel-drive is preparing a direct challenge for the Land Rover Defender.

The image published tonight by Lexus reveals the new GX – the luxury twin under the skin to the Toyota Prado 4WD – will adopt boxier, more Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class-like styling than the 14-year old model in US showrooms today.

There are few curves to be seen, with chiselled edges, flared wheel arches, a distinctive step in the window line, boxy truck-like mirrors, and a slim, full-width LED tail-light bar across the rear of the vehicle.

As reported by Drive two weeks ago, the new Lexus GX appears in line for Australian showrooms, as Lexus Australia has issued media bulletins with these teaser images – which it historically does not do unless the vehicle being previewed is slated for local showrooms.

It is unclear how closely the new Lexus GX will foreshadow the new Toyota Prado, which is due for a new generation next year – a few months after the GX is expected to go on sale in the US.

The new Lexus GX is expected to offer a choice of a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 from the LandCruiser 300 Series overseas – and a hybrid option, likely to employ a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder from the new Toyota Tacoma pick-up in the US.

Lexus has confirmed the new 2024 Lexus GX will be unveiled on June 9 at 10am AEST. Stay tuned to Drive for the latest news.

11 May 2023: The 2024 Lexus GX – the luxury twin under the skin to the top-selling Toyota Prado four-wheel-drive wagon – looks set to come to Australia for the first time with the next-generation model.

It appears in line to do so with a rugged new look – inspired by the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class – and according to trademark filings, twin-turbo petrol V6 power.

Lexus Australia issued a media bulletin tonight teasing the new-generation GX with a pair of tightly-cropped images.

The company has not confirmed plans to sell the new model in Australia, but it is highly unusual for Lexus Australia to issue a media release for a new vehicle not planned for local showrooms.

Arrival timing is yet to be disclosed, but overseas reports claim the new GX may go into production by the end of this year – ahead of the new-generation Toyota Prado, which is due next year.

The Toyota luxury division has held a trademark in Australia for ‘Lexus GX550’ since the end of 2021.

The Lexus GX has historically been closely related to the Toyota Prado, with different front-end styling, a tweaked rear design, a more luxurious cabin with unique features, and petrol V8 power instead of a turbo-diesel four-cylinder, or non-turbo petrol four-cylinder or V6.

But until now it has been built only in left-hand drive – and focused on the US market, where the Toyota Prado is not sold.

However recent reports out of Japan say it will be built in right-hand drive for the first time.

The teaser images published by Lexus preview a more hardcore, off-road-ready look than the current GX, with prominent flared wheel arches, muscular bonnet bulges, and bold LED headlights.

It suggests it may not be as closely related to the Toyota Prado as the current model, with all-new bodywork adopting a more rugged appearance – leaving the Prado to retain a softer look evolved from the outgoing, 14-year-old model.

Although it may wear different bodywork, it is expected to remain related to the next-generation Toyota Prado under the skin.

The Lexus GX550 trademark is believed to point to a detuned version of the 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 from the full-size Lexus LX, and overseas versions of its Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series twin.

Power and torque outputs are yet to be confirmed, but they are expected to decrease slightly on the 305kW/650Nm of the Lexus LX600.

It is expected there will be the option of hybrid power, which could use a version of the Lexus RX500h’s 270kW combination of a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motors.

This configuration is also slated for the new-generation Toyota Tacoma – the US counterpart to the Toyota HiLux – due for unveiling next week, which is expected to be related under the skin to the new Toyota Prado and Lexus GX.

However, it is unclear if diesel power will be an option in the Lexus GX.

Reports out of Japan have speculated the Prado will be offered with a 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 from the LandCruiser 300 Series – or a version of the current 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, which could be augmented by hybrid technology.

It is no guarantee either of these engines would be offered in the Lexus GX – as it and the Prado have historically not shared engines, and no previous GX has been available with diesel power.

If it comes to local showrooms, the GX would serve as Lexus Australia’s family-oriented seven-seat vehicle below the flagship LX, as the RX large SUV will not be available with seven seats in its new generation – and the upcoming Lexus TX, a new seven-seater based on a stretched version of the Toyota Kluger, is not expected to be made in right-hand drive.

The new 2024 Lexus GX is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, though a specific debut date is yet to be announced.

Adding to the likelihood of a local arrival for the Lexus GX: last month Lexus Australia issued a similar surprise media bulletin teasing the new-generation Lexus LM people mover, which had never been offered in Australia, nor built in right-hand drive.

A week later the vehicle was unveiled in full in China – and announced as coming to Australian showrooms for the first time.

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