- Lexus’s LBX Morizo RR Original Edition features a unique paint scheme.
- Production is capped at 100 units and sales occur via a lottery in Japan.
- The SUV uses a 1.6-liter turbo three-cylinder engine delivering 300 horses.
Sometimes automakers build cars not because they have to, but because they can, and because it’s fun. The Lexus LBX Morizo RR is one such model. The standard LBX is already a solid subcompact crossover, but Lexus decided to give it a serious performance twist by borrowing the 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
The result is the Morizo RR, a small SUV that balances the punch and agility of Gazoo Racing’s performance ethos with the polish and composure expected from Lexus. Now, there’s an even more exclusive version of Lexus’ punchy rival to the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 in the mix.
Read: Toyota’s New GR Yaris Will Have You Rethinking Everything You Thought You Wanted In A Car
Just launched in Japan, this new variant is called the LBX Morizo RR Original Edition. It sets itself apart from the standard Morizo RR with a distinctive Sonic Chrome paint finish, accented by vivid yellow highlights on the front fascia and brake calipers. The styling closely mirrors the concept version Lexus revealed last year and matches the personal car of Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda.
Extremely Limited Availability
According to a report from Creative311, Lexus will produce just 100 units of the Original Edition, all for the Japanese market. Buyers won’t be able to walk into a dealership and pick one up, as allocations will be determined via lottery.
No pricing details for this model have been announced, but it’ll inevitably carry a premium over the standard model. It does not benefit from any performance upgrades, although you could argue the ‘regular’ LBX Morizo RR is pretty fast as it is.
Powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, the Morizo RR pumps out 300 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, allowing it to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 5.2 seconds. It is sold exclusively with all-wheel drive and can be optioned with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic, just like the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
Unfortunately, Lexus will not sell the LBX Morizo RR in the United States. While American drivers can still opt for the GR Corolla, that’s a hot hatch rather than a crossover, and being a Toyota, its interior doesn’t quite match the upscale look and feel that Lexus brings to the table.
