Toyota launched a redesigned Land Cruiser last year, and while the nameplate is no longer offered in the US, the new generation of the rugged SUV has spawned a Lexus LX Twin that has arrived here for the 2022 model year.
Soon the Land Cruiser will spawn a smaller sibling known as the Land Cruiser Prado, and as has been the case with previous generations, the new Prado will have its own Lexus GX twin, which we should see in the US as well
The current GX, known as the GX 460, has been on the market since the 2010 model year and is therefore long overdue for a redesign. A trademark application filed by a Toyota official with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 7, 2021 indicates that the new GX will be known as the GX 550.
Rumors suggest that the new Prado will be launched this summer. Any GX twin will likely arrive shortly after, meaning we can see the new GX dealerships as a 2024 model.
Not much is known about the new Prado and GX, aside from the vehicles running on Toyota’s TNGA-F body-on-frame platform, shared with the Land Cruiser and LX twins, and Toyota’s Tundra pickup and the related Sequoia SUV. A shortened TNGA-F platform is also destined for the next Toyota Tacoma and likely a related 4Runner SUV.
Hybrid technology is expected to be standard across the range, including for the current 2.8-litre turbodiesel-4 offered on the GX in some markets. Don’t look for the current 4.6-liter V-8 in the US-spec GX to stick around. Rumors point to an electrified 4-cylinder, although we may also see a detuned version of the 409hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 in the LX. Stay tuned.