Lexus LBX Rumored To Pack Toyota GR Corolla's Mighty Engine

It is quite probable that a higher-end vehicle will get the magnificent 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine seen in the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris. The G16E-GTS engine is reportedly in the works for the small Lexus LBX crossover, according to the Australian journal Drive.

The athletic LBX is "highly likely, but not confirmed," according to Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas, who was asked whether the car is prepared for production. Lexus showcased a turbo three-pot engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and distinctive design elements in last year's Morizo RR Concept.

CarBuzz speculated at the time that the G16E-GTS, powering a tiny Lexus, could be the catalyst the company needs to attract a younger demographic. "You would have seen the Morizo RR concept, [with a] 1.6-liter turbo—that is very exciting for us," Pappas added. "Although it’s not confirmed for Australia, we will be putting our hand up if it does become available for Australia," according to him.

Right now, you can't buy the idea. However, this is not a defective model. Supposedly, current Chairman and former Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda uses the automobile as his personal transportation; it was genuinely built and configured for him. Toyoda says to a passerby in the video above, "We are selling it next year." It seems like the LBX RR Morizo is on its way.

Whether the special LBX will arrive later this year or in 2025 remains uncertain, given the video's early upload this year. Another possibility is that they recorded it last year. All four wheels get 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque from the LBX Morizo RR concept's automatic gearbox. The Morizo RR concept takes design cues from Lexus's little LBX, the brand's smallest car to date.

An electric 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine powers this vehicle, and it rides on the TNGA-B platform. With just 136 horsepower when factory-installed, it is pretty underpowered compared to Morizo's special edition. Unfortunately, the LBX will not be making its way to America. The original plan was for the European market.