2022 Lexus LX: Why We Can’t Wait
We cannot wait for the 2022 Lexus LX. For one thing, the aging Lexus flagship SUV could use an update. For another, Toyota Groupās newest chassis and engines are cutting-edge technology that belong in a Lexus. And finally, the 2022 Lexus LX may be the closest American customers can come to buyingĀ the incredible 300-series Land Cruiser.
The 2022 Lexus LX Will Have Eye-Catching Good Looks
The 2020Ā leak of Toyotaās future plansĀ gave us a sneak peek of a dramatic new 2022 Lexus LX. The imposing SUV featured an hourglass grille stretching from hood to bumper.
Lexus has only revealed a few 2022 models. One model is theĀ all-new Lexus NX. This model features a chin diffuser, wrap-around LED lights, and extra grill space with two āside grillsā beside the center grill. We will have to wait to see if any of these new design cues are shared across the 2022 Lexus LX.
The 2022 Lexus LX Will Likely Ride On Toyotaās New Global Architecture Chassis
Historically, the LX has been Lexusā premiere body-on-frame SUV. If the 2022 Lexus LX is still a truck-based body-on-frame SUV, we know which chassis Lexus will build it onāand we could not be more excited.
To consolidate its technologies and simplify manufacturing, Toyota GroupāLexusā parent companyālaunched itsĀ Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA)Ā initiative in 2015. Moving forward, each vehicle class will share a cutting-edge architecture. Toyota and Lexus will build all full-size, body-on-frame SUVs and trucks on the TNGA-F chassis.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300-series was the first TNGA-F vehicle.Ā The new chassisĀ improved every aspect of the Toyota SUV: It is over 400 pounds lighter than its competitor with a lower center of gravity. At the same time, the new Land Cruiser has a more robust frame with a better-engineered suspension structure. The off-road-ready Land Cruiser even boasts 9.1 inches of ground clearance.
Toyota will not sell the new Land Cruiser in the United States. But Americans glimpsed the new TNGA-F chassis again in photos of the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. The re-engineered truck forsakes outdated leaf springs in favor of rear coil springs and control arms. We hope the GX shares the Tundraās extended travel racing shocks and skidplates too.
The 2022 Lexus LX Will Probably Be Powered By A Turbocharged Dynamic Force Engine
When Toyota consolidated its chassis, it also consolidated its engine offerings. Toyota once produced about 800 engine options. With the manufacturerās Dynamic Force engine initiative, it sought to cut that number to seventeen.
With its Dynamic Force engine family, Toyota combined its VVT-iE system with modular, long stroke and high-compression engine technologies. The new flagship engine is known internally as theĀ V35A-FTS. It is a 3.4-Liter V6 with twin turbochargers. It is capable of producing 10.5:1 compression and achieving 37% thermal efficiency.
Lexus has offered this cutting-edge V6 in LS 500 since the sedanās 2017 redesign. It produces 416 horsepower while maintaining 18 city/29 highway mpg (22 combined).
With no V8 in the Dynamic Force engine family, it appears that every TNG-F chassis SUV and truck will share this turbocharged V6. We cannot wait to see how it performs in the 2022 Lexus LX.
Lexus Is Hitting Its Stride
The golden age of Lexus is upon us: Consumer Reports is giving excellent five-year reports to Lexus SUVs, such asĀ the 2016 Lexus RX. Consumer Reports also names theĀ 2021 Lexus RXĀ among the most comfortable SUVs. CR even rankedĀ the 2021 Lexus GXĀ above the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, and our reviewer likedĀ the GXās cool features. Then, MotorTrend listedĀ the 2021 Lexus LXĀ among the best full-size luxury three-row SUVs.
Some of the technology in 2021 Lexus SUVs is, admittedly, old-school. Yet the 2021 lineup wowed fans and critics alike. We cannot wait to see what Lexus can do with Toyota Groupās cutting-edge chassis and high-tech new engines. The 2022 Lexus LX cannot come soon enough.
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