Lexus has finally done it. After showing it off as a concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Lexus has decided to put the special one-off Morizo edition into production as the Lexus LBX Morizo RR. Order books in Japan have been opened with customer delivers to start by late August.
Released for the Japanese market (and likely destined for export markets too), the LBX Morizo RR packs the GR Yaris’s 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine. The G16E-GTS engine in this case makes 304 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 3,250 to 4,600 rpm. Like the GR Yaris, it’s available in both 6-speed manual (iMT) or with the 8-speed Direct Shift automatic. With a curb weight of 1,440 kilograms for the manual and 1,470 kilograms for the automatic, the 0 to 100 km/h is pegged at 5.2 seconds.
To fully utilize the additional power, Lexus engineers thoroughly modified the all-wheel drive platform to include the world’s first on-road application of Response-Enhancing Damping Structure (REDS) which has been applied to the front lower arms. These added thermoset resin inserts is said to improve steering response and feedback. Torsional rigidity has been increased through additional spot welds and structural adhesives, while a performance damper has been added to the rear to improve ride and handling.
Noise was a particular point of focus for the Morizo RR, given the car’s premium positioning. Sound deadening has been added to the fender liners, boot floor and under-engine cover – itself coming with a NACA duct for extra cooling, while the active noise cancellation now adapts to driving conditions and the drive mode selected. This corresponds to the engine and exhaust sound as well.
Communicating its newfound performance, the LBX Morizo RR adopts new bumpers—front and rear, body-colored wheel arches and rocker moldings, and forged 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/45R19 tires. Though these do add a touch of aggressiveness to the design, they were also done to maximize the aerodynamic performance. Inside, it has sport seats with more aggressive bolstering, aluminum pedals, and added sporty accents. Dimensionally, it is 15 mm wider (1,840 mm) and 10 mm lower (1,535 mm) than the LBX HEV variant. Overall length (4,190 mm) and wheelbase (2,580 mm) remain the same.
Setting the LBX Morizo RR apart, Lexus is also offering it with a “Bespoke Build” program where customers can option it with unique colors. This includes brake calipers finished in Morizo’s signature yellow.
In Japan, prices for the LBX Morizo RR starts at 6.5 million yen, a 1.14 million yen premium over the top-trim HEV.
Good to see Lexus offer a vehicle with manual transmission again after 20 years or so.
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