Spotted: this is definitely not a normal Lexus LBX
Pseudonym of Akio Toyoda
The name Morizo may tell you something. It is the pseudonym of Akio Toyoda, former top executive of Toyota Motor Corporation and someone who happily drives laps on the race track as if he has forgotten that he is responsible for a billion-dollar company. Morizo is his alter ego for all things motorsports. So when a Lexus appears labeled Morizo RR, you know that someone somewhere in the corner of the development department has enthusiastically shouted “yes!
Where the regular Lexus LBX is mainly about luxury in a small package, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR is allowed to do something else. Under the hood lies a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine that is also found in Toyota’s GR models, such as the GR Yaris and GR Corolla. It is a compact power source, but one that likes to let you know it’s in the mood. Driven by an automatic transmission to all four wheels, the car feels more like a small rally-crossover than a Lexus entry-level model.
What really makes this Lexus LBX Morizo RR different?
Lexus has taken an approach with the Morizo RR that resembles a car with a dual identity. On the outside, you still recognize it as an LBX, but one that has spent some time in the gym. Larger air intakes, a slightly more aggressive bumper section and a subtle spoiler betray that this is not a standard version in front of you. Inside, the recipe is similar: sport seats, a compact steering wheel and materials that look just a bit firmer than in the everyday version.
The most interesting part, however, is in the tuning. The suspension and damping have been tweaked, the steering is more direct and the all-wheel drive engages more quickly. It feels like Lexus has built a little bombshell that still happens to wear a neat badge on the nose. Everything exudes that this LBX is meant to be fun to drive above all else, without completely pushing aside the normal Lexus comfort box.
Why isn’t he coming to Europe?
The question that then arises: why don’t we see this Morizo RR in European showrooms? The answer is a combination of regulations, market logic and a bit of “don’t make it harder than it has to be.
First, the powertrain does not meet all European emission and noise requirements without substantial modifications. That is possible, but it costs time and money, and the target group for such a niche version is small in Europe. In Japan, however, there is a strong market for compact cars with a sporty touch; sporty models like and various fast kei-cars merrily mix there. A sporty LBX fits effortlessly in between.
In addition, Lexus Europe focuses primarily on hybrid and electric models. A small crossover with a relatively peppy gasoline engine does not quite fit into that picture. For a brand that in Europe bets heavily on efficiency and quietness in the driving experience, a noisy Morizo might be just a bit harder to sell. Even if it is very nice for car enthusiasts. And what about the Netherlands? BPM! Boo-hoo!
What exactly does that name mean?
As mentioned, Morizo refers to Akio Toyoda’s racing name. The addition RR is described by Lexus as Rally Replica, although you can also take it as a nod to the motorsports world in general. No, you don’t have to rally with it – though the car probably wouldn’t be shocked if you tried to do so anyway. The name is mainly meant to make it clear that this is no ordinary LBX, but one with a sporty edge normally reserved only for Japan.
How should you see this car?
The LBX Morizo RR is a curiosity: a compact Lexus that tells you it’s okay to play a little. It was developed in Japan, for Japan, with an audience that likes to see crazy variants of everyday models. Think of the kind of car that in Europe you see mostly at car shows or YouTube circuits, but in Tokyo is just waiting next to a boulder van at the stoplight.
So for European enthusiasts, this remains a car in the “too bad we won’t get it” category. But somewhere that also fits the charm. An exotic LBX that you only spontaneously get next to at an intersection during a vacation in Japan – and then sprint away as if it can’t wait for the next turn. And don’t blame him.
