Toyota has produced many vehicles over the year that are synonymous with off-roading. But, that’s not the case with the automaker’s premium brand, Lexus. Despite having butch, muscular SUVs in the stable, owners never used it for off-road adventures, nor did Lexus bother to market them that way. However, the company found out that owners have been customizing their SUVs to make them off-road friendly, and the results are quite impressive. Seeing that Lexus SUVs have the potential to fill that craving, the automaker decided to give the folks what they wanted. The result, you ask? A Lexus GX460-based off-roader, dubbed as the Lexus GXOR.

Exterior

The Lexus GXOR is based on the 2019 GX460. Lexus did not try to mess around with the looks, so it looks pretty much the same on the outside except for the equipment added. Upfront, it carries over most of the traits and characteristics from the standard GX460. The grille is retained as well, with four horizontal slats in between and the big ‘L’ in the middle. The chrome garnish on the top border, however, has been eliminated. I’m not a fan of chrome, so I’m glad the chrome is gone. The same goes the big grille, but I think the face on the GXOR looks quite good. The customized bumper comes with a Warn winch with synthetic cable. The bumper is a small unit that also increases the approach angle greatly when compared to the standard GX460. The fog lamp housing looks the same, though. It houses the fog lamps and the cornering lights in here and looks in sync with the shape of the headlights and the DRLs. Oh, and speaking of this fantastic shade, it is the color similar to the 10th anniversary Matt Nebula Grey that we saw on the RC F special edition in 2018.

To give the SUV a more muscular look, Lexus has installed a Safari snorkel on the A-pillar. If you observe carefully, snorkels are generally not placed very well on most vehicles. They look completely out of place, especially at the base. Lexus, however, must be commended for the way it has placed the snorkel on the GXOR. It blends in with the fender flares nonchalantly and complements the design language of the SUV. One thing which Lexus missed is the hood scoop. It would have added to the butch-ness of the GXOR to a great extent. To protect the SUV from the hits on rough terrains, Lexus has added CBI frame sliders and a full underbody armor. Good to know that Lexus has paid attention to not just the ruggedness, but also the safety aspect here.

Step to the side and you’ll realize how big the SUV looks now.

This customer-driven off-road concept rides on Lexus F-Sport wheels wrapped in 275/70, 18-inch General Grabber X3 tires that can glide over rocks and boulders fairly well. Lexus should have given 20-inch rollers a shot as well. Lexus even added side steps that sit flush with the body and look like side skirting more than steps. Thanks to a lift-kit, the SUV rides much higher than its standard twin, more of which will be covered in the drivetrain section. On the D-pillar, you can see the moniker embossed that looks great. These simple touches add so much to the overall design and make you appreciate the attention-to-details the designers have given to it.

Moving to the back, the design touches here are quite subtle. Speaking about the attention-to-detail again, the ‘OR’ part of the name badge is in blue. This is an ode to the Lexus F Performance badge which also wears the same blue color. These are really well-thought touches. A Patriot Campers X1H trailer was also showcased along with the concept that can be tagged along with the help of the tow hitchback. A Lunafridge is placed inside the truck that is powered by a 160-watt solar panel setup, panels for which are placed on the roof. The roof rack also houses aluminum storage cases, recovery boards, and a 50-inch LED light bar that will lighten up the area around the SUV immensely. It would be very helpful if you plan to do some ‘trekking’ at night with this beast.

Interior

The biggest change on the inside is reflected on the last row. The solar panels on the roof rack that we spoke about powers the National Luna fridge sitting in the truck. This is pretty much self-explanatory. Other than this, Lexus also approached Goose Gear to provide smart storage solutions here. Four aluminum boxes do the duties and are placed strategically to maximize the space as much possible. In the front, the Lexus GXOR remains the same as the standard GX460. A few switches in the cabin, like the one for the air suspension from the standard SUV, have been deleted. Instead of leaving them with black plastic caps - as is the norm - that remind you of what is missing from your vehicle, Lexus instead used caps finished in the same color as the other switches in the console that gel well. The center console also houses a radio and navigation that have been fitted well and look robust. All-in-all, the comfort of the Lexus GX460 has been carried over as it is and there are no major changes per se, except for the third row delete.

As for the trailer, Lexus decided to bring this ‘add-on’ with the Lexus GXOR. The Patriot Campers X1H trailer that sets up the tent via the press of a button on the remote control. It deploys an automatic folding and unfolding system that makes life so much easier. This is no ordinary camper as it features an aluminum body and Rigilite chassis that weighs around 2,100 pounds! It comes with other niceties such as USB and 12V ports, LED lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, and an L-shaped slide-out kitchen.

Drivetrain

Lexus has not made any changes to the drivetrain whatsoever. Not even a power bump. The Lexus GXOR is powered by the same 4.6-liter, V-8 engine that churns out 301 horses and 329 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. There is no word on the towing ratings on the GXOR. The standard GX460 can tow up to 6,500 pounds. The Lexus GX460 comes with a full-time four-wheel drive with Torsen limited-slip differential and electronic differential lock. Thanks to these specs, the monster-sized SUV can sprint from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds before topping out 110 mph. The biggest change on the GXOR concept here is the suspension system. This is a Stage 6 setup with steel springs and external reservoirs. Overall, the GX460 drives like a truck – which I don’t mean in a good way – and, the same can be expected from the SXOR as well. But since this is meant primarily for off-roading, the lift kit, larger tires, and a rock-solid build will blend together to give you a nice experience.

Final Thoughts

Lexus SUVs are not known for their off-roading prowess, but with concepts like these, the company could venture into this line. Lexus acknowledged that this is a customer-driven concept, which means they saw customers making their Lexus SUVs more off-road friendly. Lexus has partnered with many aftermarket companies like Goosegear, Icon, etc. to turn the Lexus GX460 into an off-road beast. While most of it went right, I’m a little surprised as to why no changes were made to the mechanical part of the SUV. It could sure do with some extra torque, for instance, when it tows the 2,100-pound trailer with it. Since this was the first off-road concept from the marque, Lexus should have taken a lot more risks and make an impact right away. As Lexus said, customers have been customizing their SUVs from aftermarket companies. So, why not offer something irresistible at the factory level itself? If Lexus is looking at this niche seriously, which it should, it better come up with more concepts to build a sense of trust amongst the owners and potential owners.

Further reading

Read our full driven review on the 2015 Lexus GX 460.