What occurs when the chairman of Toyota, a racing fanatic and grasp driver, commissions a automobile that feels “pure and rewarding to drive whereas being as comfy as a favorite pair of sneakers?”
It seems the reply is to take the pint-sized Lexus LBX, shoehorn the entire catalogue of GR Yaris go-fast bits beneath and slap that very same chairman’s racing moniker on the rear tailgate.
It’s solely becoming that Akio Toyoda’s racing deal with Morizo can also be accompanied by RR, quick for Rookie Racing; the identify of the Toyota-owned sister staff to Gazoo Racing, which focuses on tarmac racing genres reminiscent of Tremendous Formulation and Tremendous GT.
The result’s the newest instance of the Japanese model’s return to its racing roots; and motoring followers, this one included, couldn’t be happier. The LBX is each the smallest Lexus to ever be marketed in Australia and the entry degree providing.
It shares a platform with the Yaris Cross. This makes the Frankenstein conversion far much less a stretch of the creativeness, however not earlier than utility of a liberal dose of refinement befitting of the Lexus badge.
It actually doesn’t disappoint, with a unprecedented normal of match and end inside and outside, with a function listing that belies its measurement. A look on the exterior reveals a delightful mixture of class and aggression.
The pearlescent White Nova on our instance contrasted completely towards the gloss blackouts of the roof and grille. The latter is restricted to the Morizo RR and does its greatest to cover an array of radiators for varied cooling features.
Physique-coloured fenders are flared to accommodate a monitor improve of 10mm up entrance and 15mm within the rear, whereas 19-inch concave charcoal wheels fill them out. They’re wrapped in spectacular Continental Sport Contact 7 235/45 rubber.
The duo conceal outsized 4-pot crimson callipers. The primary time within the driver’s seat felt like a contradiction contemplating the aggression outdoors. There’s nothing on this cabin that isn’t comfortable to the touch, with all of the refinement typical of Lexus’ Takumi craftmanship.
The seats themselves are supportive and cozy, with electrical adjustment for the motive force. We have been notably impressed with how deep they may sit within the cabin however would’ve favored to see slightly extra pizazz within the design.
The steering wheel sits upright and is completely positioned, however just like the seats, the design is a missed alternative. It’s made up for partially by the beautiful suede with crimson stitching throughout the sprint, centre console, doorways and centre bin.
It’s a wise structure too, with sufficient buttons for tactility and a 9.8-inch infotainment display for remaining features. Wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be found, together with three USB ports and a wi-fi charger.
Whereas it’s a 5-door SUV, even the youngest of our brood required the passenger seat slid ahead to permit sufficient house. It’s as comfy as one would anticipate again there, with a few USB ports to maintain units topped up.
Finally although, this was the primary time in a very long time that the press automobile was left behind when going for a household drive. And whereas the rear hatch will be opened with the wave of a foot underneath the bumper, the house is commensurate to measurement.
There’s 266-litres that may lengthen to 880-litres with the rear row folded down. However to harp on these points is to disregard the aim behind the Morizo RR. Hitting the starter fires up the very same 3-cylinder bee-hive-on-steroids that we liked within the GR Yaris and Corolla.
It wasn’t that way back when the Japanese producers gentleman’s settlement limiting energy outputs mirrored the 206kW that this little 3-pot musters. It’s much more thoughts bending that the autos pertaining to that settlement are legends.
The listing contains the RB26 powered Nissan R32 GTR and 2JZ Toyota Supra, every with twice the cylinder and turbocharger depend of the Morizo RR. Peak torque of 390Nm begins at a lofty 3250rpm, pushed by all 4 wheels through a torque converter 8-speed computerized.
That’s paired with a trick all-wheel drive system. Whereas it may ship drive to the axle that wants it probably the most, a click on of a button can lock a 50:50 break up, and a Torsen LSD is thrown into the rear axle for good measure.
What stunned us most was the cornering perspective. When pottering it may be slightly crashy by Sydney’s well-maintained roadways (ha!), however it all is smart when driving in any sort of anger.
The beefier shocks and comes, mixed with elevated structural rigidity within the type of 213 additional spot welds, thicker rear beaver panel, and a number of underfloor braces imply this chassis simply doesn’t roll like an SUV ought to.
Sprinkle in a brief ratio steering rack and bake at 180-degrees for 45 minutes and also you quickly get a automobile that’s direct, assured and an absolute hoot to push out to the 7500rpm redline.
Sport mode opens valving within the exhaust, which may present a satisfying however not over-the-top “crackle and pop” on over-run and an offended barking crescendo at wide-open-throttle.
The shift program for the gearbox hunts optimum factors within the rev vary earlier than altering up or down at speeds one would anticipate from a DSG, with a satisfying throttle-blip for good measure. The calibrations are each quick and clever even in computerized mode.
In the event you’re a management freak like us, handbook mode by the steering wheel mounted pedals will see you bouncing off the limiter when not concentrating. The trade-off of this mayhem, when you may name it that, is a wholesome thirst for Premium dinosaur juice.
Our common figures for every week with a 75 per cent slant towards city and enthusiastic driving was 10.7-litres/100km, however we did see peaks of as much as 16-litres/100km. Sadly, a handbook gained’t be provided regionally, and that’s a disgrace.
That’s notably so as a result of one of many few actual complaints we had revolved round take-off. To be clear, launch management is obtainable and actually helps, however the mixture of the convertor field paired with a big-boost small-capacity motor is a slight let down.
As soon as on the boil nevertheless, these ideas are changed by the necessity to deal with organising for the subsequent bend. It’s additionally simply as comfortable out on the open highway with a shocking 950rpm give or take at 110km/h.
Maybe our solely criticism in these situations was the tyre roar on the right track chip bitumen regardless of the acoustic entrance glass and energetic noise management, which we put that right down to the sticky rubber.
All isn’t misplaced although, because it presents good cause to up the amount of the sensational 13-speaker Mark and Levinson sound system. You may also be assured that you just’ll get to your vacation spot safely, with the total gamut of driver help features too.
We have been notably impressed by polished lane preserve help perform, and the apparent inclusion of the clever cruise management perform we liked within the LS 500. Which leads us to $76.490 plus on-roads entry price.
For full disclosure, we could have been slightly flippant about how this automobile was named. The reality is, Toyoda allowed using the Morizo moniker on this pint-sized rocket based mostly on his approval, so it’s removed from a advertising ploy.
When you think about the efficiency and utility of the Morizo RR, together with the intimate relationship shared with Toyoda himself, it nearly actually ensures this automobile will likely be a future collector’s piece. Now to stay round till 2060 to utter the phrases “I instructed you so”.
You’ll find out extra from the Lexus Australia web site, or by speaking to your native dealership. To get a low charge finance quote, speak to Australia’s greatest reviewed automobile finance dealer; Credit score One. To see an incredible vary of autos on the market, take a look at OnlyCars.com.au.
Our take a look at automobile was offered by Lexus Australia Restricted for impartial assessment functions. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to assessment this automobile.
