Twin-turbo V6 hybrid power has come to the Lexus LX – the luxury twin to the LandCruiser 300 Series – alongside a tech upgrade and new Overtrail off-road variant. But the hybrid is not confirmed for Australia.
The 2025 Lexus LX has added the option of hybrid power – known as the LX700h – as part of a model-year upgrade that introduces new technology and a flagship Overtrail variant.
While the tech and safety upgrades are locked in for Australia, Lexus says it is still considering whether to sell the LX700h and Overtrail in local showrooms.
The launch of a hybrid LX paves the way for petrol-electric power in the related Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series – but the Japanese car giant remains tight-lipped, saying it has “nothing to announce today.”
The Lexus LX700h adds an electric motor to the LX600’s 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engine, in a configuration similar to the Toyota Tundra hybrid pick-up due in local showrooms next month.
Lexus does not state power outputs for the system, but they are expected to stay close to the 325kW and 790Nm of the Tundra – adding only a small boost over the LX600’s 305kW/650Nm.
The petrol-electric system is described as a ‘parallel’ hybrid, so it can drive on petrol power alone – or electric power alone. It is not stated if both power sources can work simultaneously, but it is likely.
The electric motor is placed between the engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, with the standard LX’s full-time four-wheel-drive system and low-range transfer case retained.
Lexus says the LX700h has the same 700mm maximum wading depth as other variants – thanks to a waterproof casing for the battery – and is fitted with a second starter motor on top of the regular alternator so the car can start its engine independently of the electric motor if required.
A waterproof AC inverter under the centre console allows the battery to supply up to 1500W or 2400W – depending on the region where the vehicle is sold – to external electrical devices.
Added alongside the hybrid is a new Overtrail flagship, also under consideration for Australia, which mirrors the off-road-ready GX Overtrail now on sale in Australia.
Available with five seats only, the Overtrail gains front and rear locking differentials, unique 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tyres, and a 30-litre auxiliary fuel tank for a total 110-litre capacity.
It also adds a black finish for the front and rear bumpers, front grille, wheel arches, door mirrors, door handles and roof rails, plus unique seat upholstery, and the option of a Moon Desert beige exterior colour.
New across the LX range for 2025 – and confirmed for Australia – are technology updates, including a 12.3-inch widescreen digital instrument cluster replacing the previous 8.0-inch screen.
The chassis has gained a third cross-member to support the hybrid battery, as well as a redesign of the mounting cushions used to attach the upper body, claimed to improve rigidity and reduce vibrations on the road.
Strengthened rear engine mounts have also been added, along with a revised position for the under-slung spare wheel on the hybrid to accommodate the battery without compromising the departure angle.
The 12-volt battery has also moved from the engine to “to the side of the rear deck” – believed to reference the boot.
Lexus Japan says it has revised the suspension – with a new valve structure inside the adaptive damping actuator – to “smoothly control the damping force when the absorber suddenly compresses when going over a bump in the road,” and reduce body movement when braking at parking speeds.
Other improvements include; a new electronic gear selector on the hybrid, an ‘air bladder’ in the front seats claimed to reduce fatigue, and a higher-power wireless phone charger up front.
Safety technology has too been updated, with autonomous emergency braking for intersections, and a new driver monitoring camera which watches the driver’s eyes, and can instruct the vehicle to pull itself over on the side of the road if the driver is detected to be unresponsive.
The 2025 Lexus LX petrol and diesel range is due in Australia sometime next year, with the hybrid and Overtrail under consideration.
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