As you likely know, Lexus has already dipped its toes into the goodies of Toyota’s GR division with the Morizo RR version of the LBX, which is marketed overseas, and guess what? They are not ending the sporty venture here, because an aggressive variant of the larger RX is now in the works as we speak.
Caught undergoing testing about a week ago, it looks bad-to-the-bone compared to the standard versions of the popular crossover, and that’s despite being partially covered up in camouflage. But the trippy vinyl stickers were recently removed by Kolesa’s pixel master, Nikita Chuyko, who analyzed the spy shots mentioned above, and came up with a set of very realistic digital illustrations that preview the design of this model as best as possible.
Care to talk about the differences? Well, at first glance, the front bumper appears to be about the same. However, while the grille may be similar, albeit with a different pattern, the vents on the sides have been significantly enlarged. Moreover, there is also a new chin spoiler with blades on the sides, and another air intake in the middle, that further sets the model apart from its traditional siblings, alongside a blacked-out corporate logo in the middle of the tweaked grille.
While the hood carries over, just like the front fenders, the wheel arches sport new trim on them, and they are significantly sportier. The side skirts are part of the visual makeover on the outside, and we also expect the door mirror casings to be on the special side of things. The roof-mounted spoiler soldiers on in these CGIs, which depict the upcoming Lexus RX Morizo RR with a new bumper, a multi-fin diffuser, blades on the sides, and cutouts for the dual exhaust tips.
Photo: Kolesa
One does not need to be a connoisseur of the vehicles signed by Toyota’s luxury brand to tell that this model sits a lot closer to the ground compared to the standard versions. Therefore, it features an updated chassis setup, and we expect it to be quite bouncy, though that’s the price to pay if you want your Lexus RX Morizo RR to keep up with the BMW X5 M, Mercedes-AMG GLE 63, and other similarly-sized models on a twisty road and at the local racetrack.
The wheels of the scooped prototype mentioned above were also under wraps, suggesting that these will also be on the special side of things. The tester had V-spoke alloys, just like this rendered vehicle, where they are presented in anthracite, spinning around the red brake calipers with white Brembo branding on them. The 21-inch wheels were wrapped in 265/40 front and 295/35 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires on the scooped tester.
In addition to the wider tracks, dedicated wheels, re-tuned chassis setup, uprated brakes, and sporty body kit, the upcoming Lexus RX Morizo RR is expected to pack a lot of oomph. After all, it will inevitable want to put the BMW X5 M and the Audi RS Q8 in their corners. Word on the street is that it will boast around 600 horsepower in total from an all-wheel drive hybrid that might be built around Toyota’s new 2.0-liter four-pot, joined by a pair of electric motors.
Photo: Kolesa
As you likely suspect, the Morizo RR, if this is indeed the version that the automaker is preparing as we speak, and we do not see why it wouldn’t be, will be part of the RX’s mid-cycle refresh. The regular facelifted Lexus RX is expected to come out first, followed by the Morizo RR later on. The rumor mill says that this sporty model might come out of hiding sometime in 2028. Keep in mind that the company has yet to confirm the date, as well as the arrival of the Morizo RR flavor of the upcoming RX.
The regular facelifted Lexus RX, which will retire the current one that is a little over four years old, will feature the usual updates at the front and rear, revolving around the lighting units, and bumpers, joined perhaps by new exterior colors, and probably different wheels. A new infotainment system with a larger display is understood to be part of the model’s mid-cycle refresh, and the lineup to become a bit more expensive than the current one.
Lexus’ 2026 RX starts at $52,775 in the United States for the base gas flavor. The Hybrid has an MSRP of $55,075 attached to it, and for the Plug-in Hybrid, interested parties will have to prepare at least $66,780. Last but not least, the F Sport completes the family, kicking off at $57,280, as the company’s official website reveals. Keep in mind that these are all MSRPs.
Now, do you fancy the look of the upcoming Lexus RX Morizo RR based on these renderings? And if so, could this model convince you to say no to its main competitors, including the Neue Klasse BMW X5 M that is currently in the making?