The New Lexus LBX Morizo RR Is Basically A More Practical GR Yaris

The all-new Lexus LBX Morizo RR edition debuts in Japn as a more practical version of the Toyota GR Yaris rally hatch.

Remember the manic Lexus LBX Morizo RR Concept shown by Toyota at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon? It turns out Lexus has decided to turn this sporty crossover concept into a production model, and fortunately, it carries not only the same nameplate and appearance as its concept twin but, more importantly, its powertrain specs too.

Starting with the visuals, this souped-up LBX retains almost the same look as its concept twin unveiled earlier this year. Differentiating the LBX Morizo RR from other vanilla LBX models is the special Morizo bespoke body kit it comes dressed in, featuring a redesigned front bumper with significantly larger intakes, wider fenders, and a more aggressive rear bumper design.

Special too are the 19-inch forged alloy wheels the LBX Morizo RR rolls on. Besides giving the car a more muscular and aggressive stance, Lexus claimed that the new body kit also helps to improve the crossover’s cooling and aerodynamic performance.

The sporty makeover continues as we get inside the LBX Morizo RR. In place of the standard model’s two powered front seats are a pair of aggressive sports seats that come in a slew of colour options. Also present here are sporty aluminium foot pedals, as well as Alcantara inserts with contrasting red stitching.

As the headline suggests, the LBX Morizo RR boasts a more practical and conventional five-seater layout compared to the three-door GR Yaris. While the rally hatch boasts a 2+2 seating layout, we’d reckon the LBX’s rear seats are more usable than the ones on the GR Yaris, offering a slight practical advantage despite its similar performance specs.

Similar performance specs, you say? Yes, because unlike its ‘vanilla’ twin, the LBX Morizo RR uses the same 1.6-litre 3-cyl turbocharged petrol mill as the recently-facelifted GR Yaris, delivering 300 HP and 400 NM to all four wheels via an electronically controlled full-time AWD system.

Just like the new GR Yaris, the LBX Morizo RR is also offered with either an 8-speed automatic gearbox or a more fun 6-speed manual option. Regardless of your transmission choice, Lexus claims the LBX Morizo RR can reach 0-100 KM/H in just 5.2 seconds.

More on the mechanical side, both the LBX Morizo RR and GR Yaris underpin the heavily modified version of the TNGA-B platform, so much so that Lexus refers to the LBX’s underpinnings as a “dedicated platform." Among the upgrades bestowed on the LBX Morizo RR are the Response-Enhancing Damping Structure (REDS) on the front lower arms, an upgraded braking system, and some Lexus-specific improvements that help to reduce excessive noise and vibration.

Order books for the all-new Lexus LBX Morizo RR have been opened in its native Japanese market, with first deliveries set to commence in August this year. Regardless of the transmission choice, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR starts at JPY 6.5 million (RM193,063), making it more expensive than its rally-hatch twin.

To further up the ante, Lexus also offers a limited-run “Bespoke Build” version of the LBX Morizo RR, which features some extra personalisation options. Naturally, this 100-unit-only special is tagged higher than its regular twin at JPY 7.2 million (RM213,855) a piece, and you can only get them via a lottery system.