Lexus GX hybrid not yet waterproof enough for Australia, V6 only at launch

The Toyota Prado-essentially essentially based mostly Lexus GX four-wheel power will almost definitely be on hand only with a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine when it is released in Australia in the autumn of 2024.

Whereas the confirmed GX550 mannequin’s outputs of 260kW of energy and 650Nm of torque from its power-fed zigzag-six are comparatively ample, a tantalising hybrid mannequin has been developed – nevertheless it is no longer on hand to Lexus Australia yet.

A petroleum-electric hybrid GX is in model and has already been confirmed for patrons in the US, with the variant – likely badged GX500h – more likely to be released in the American market in unhurried 2024.

That engine, furthermore feeble in the RX500h SUV, pairs a turbocharged 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder with front and rear electric motors fed by a compact excessive-voltage lithium-ion battery mounted near the rear axle.

Nonetheless extra strengthening work and durability testing is being performed to ranking definite that the hybrid GX is ready for heavier-responsibility markets – at the side of Australia – with a issue focal level on waterproofing the hybrid’s excessive-voltage battery.

Waterproofing of hybrid battery is a piece-in-progress

Talking with Chasing Autos at the worldwide first power of the petrol-only GX550, the mannequin’s chief engineer Koji Tsukasaki explained what’s required to safe the GX hybrid to Australia.

“[We are working on] the water resistance, in particular the lithium-ion battery, because it rains a lot in Australia and folks are inclined to power a GX in water,” Tsukasaki acknowledged.

“We are making certain the waterproofness of the [hybrid] battery.”

The petrol V6-outfitted GX550 Overtrail grade, seen above, has ground clearance of 270mm – and it’s expected to match or exceed the 700mm wading depth restrict of the outdated-gen GX.

Tsukasaki wouldn’t be drawn on precisely when the waterproofing work on the GX hybrid could well be performed, making the electrified GX ready for an Australian free up.

“I can’t acknowledge exactly how a protracted time [it will take], however we must free up an adapted GX for regional desires as early as that you’d recall to mind,” he acknowledged.

Half of of the Lexus vehicles sold in Australia final year had hybrid engines.

The Eastern marque says this could merely provide an electrified possibility for every of its fashions in Australia by 2030, and Lexus has a global purpose to promote only fleshy EVs by 2035.

Lessons will almost definitely be feeble in making ready TNGA-F to transfer fully electric

Chasing Autos understands that the work being performed to water-resistant the GX hybrid’s excessive-voltage battery for Australian prerequisites is well-known to the Toyota Motor Company’s preparations for introducing fully-electric off-road vehicles.

The GX chief engineer acknowledged that the TNGA-F physique-on-frame platform utilised by the unique GX and Prado – plus the novel LX and Land Cruiser – is being readied for fleshy electrification.

“We constructed this platform so that our drivers can use it for a extremely long time length – so we are emphasising utilizing the similar platform for added electrification at Lexus,” acknowledged Tsukasaki.

“We could well be taking a count on to the adoption of hybrid, jog-in hybrid and doubtlessly a battery EV.”