Images of upcoming special editions for the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Lexus LX have surfaced online. Meant for the UAE market, the Land Cruiser Grand Touring and Lexus LX Black Edition S get a number of design-based tweaks on the outside; although they are still mechanically unchanged from the standard models sold in the UAE market.
The special edition of the flagship Toyota SUV is based on the GXR variant and features a new grille section with a chrome finish, a tweaked front-bumper design (with chrome garnish around the fog lamps) and blacked-out headlamps. However, the 18-inch alloy wheels, rear bumper and roof spoiler are retained from the Land Cruiser GXR.
The Lexus LX Black Edition S seems to be an even sportier version of the already sporty-looking LX Superior – at least based on the images of the LX Superior that had leaked online, last year. The now-standard spindle-like grille design gets an all-black finish, along with blacked-out headlamps, tail-lamps and fog-lamp cluster.
For the UAE market, the Toyota is powered by a choice of engine options – a 271hp, 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine, a 304hp, 4.6-litre V8 petrol motor and a range-topping 362hp, 5.7-litre V8 petrol mill. The first two are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox while the latter is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. All variants get all-wheel drive as standard. The Lexus shares its 5.7-litre V8 engine with the Land Cruiser.
While neither of these special editions are expected to come to India, Lexus does have the standard LX 450d and LX 570 in its India line-up, both have a price tag of Rs 2.33 crore (ex-showroom, India). Meanwhile Toyota’s Land Cruiser LC200 retails at 1.41 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is powered by 4.5-litre diesel engine that makes 265hp and 650Nm of torque.
In India, Toyota has entered into a partnership with Maruti Suzuki to share a few models including the latter’s Baleno hatchback and Vitara Brezza compact SUV. In addition, the Japanese brand is expected to bring two new hybrids – the all-new Camry and the C-HR crossover – to our market in 2019.
Lexus has recently launched the new-gen ES 300h here for Rs 59.13 lakh; and just three months ago, it brought the LX 570 to India.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
