The Lexus GX might welcome a new powertrain under its hood in the coming years if a recent trademark registered by Toyota in Costa Rica is anything to go by. The Japanese automaker filed to register the “GX550” mark with the Central American country, where Lexus currently sells its full line of SUVs, on September 7, 2021.
Admittedly, we’re not sure what exactly to make of this filing. Part of us thinks it may signal the current-generation GX’s coming retirement after more than a decade on sale. Dubbed GX460 and based on the Land Cruiser Prado that Toyota sells elsewhere in the world, the current GX is sure to follow in the tire tracks of its Prado kin, which is reportedly slated for a redesign within the next year or two. That said, given Lexus just updated the GX460’s interior for 2022, we think it’s possible the GX might stick around in its current form for more than a couple of years. At least, in the United States.
Whether the GX550 badge adorns a redesigned GX or complements the 4.6-liter V-8 engine of today’s GX remains to be seen. Regardless, we anticipate the GX550 to pack a good deal more grunt than the aging 301-hp engine that powers the GX460. We even wager the “550” nomenclature has no relation to the engine’s displacement. Rather, it’s likely an arbitrary number used to signal its place in the hierarchy of Lexus powertrains.
Assuming this is the case, then we think a potential GX550 will rely on a variant of the 409-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 that powers some versions of the recently revealed 300-series Land Cruiser for motivation. Of course, the reality of this is anyone’s guess. For all we know, Toyota simply trademarked GX550 to ensure it wasn’t snagged by a competing manufacturer. Nevertheless, we want to believe a more powerful Lexus GX is coming, and this trademark certainly serves to feed such a belief.
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