2025 Lexus LBX Morizo: Luxurious take on Toyota GR Yaris headed to Australia

Lexus has taken the LBX Morizo RR from concept to reality, and it's headed for Australia. There's even a manual option... in Japan.

18 Jul 2024 at 2:56 pm

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Scott Collie

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Scott Collie

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Lexus has whipped the covers of its smallest ever performance car.

The LBX Morizo RR is headed for Japanese showrooms in August, before arriving in Australia during the first half of 2025.

Under the skin, the Morizo RR shares a number of its key components with the Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches.

Power comes from a turbocharged three-cylinder engine. Key details are below:

Specifications	Lexus LBX Morizo RR
Engine	1.6L 3-cylinder turbo
Power	206kW (Australia; Japanese claim is 224kW)
Torque	390Nm
Transmission	6-speed manual, 8-speed auto
Driven wheels	AWD
0-100km/h	5.2 seconds
Weight	1440kg (manual), 1470kg (auto)

The manual will be exclusive to the Japanese market.

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Along with the boosted three-cylinder engine, the LBX Morizo RR has been heavily tweaked under the skin to put its power down.

The all-wheel drive system has a variable torque split, and a Torsen limited-slip differential is optional on the rear axle.

It’s not clear if it’ll be part of a package, as was the case in the GR Yaris at launch, or whether it will be standard in Australia.

Its platform has been stiffened up front, and the rear is wider to accomodate the all-wheel drive system’s differentials, the more sophisticated double wishbone sports suspension, and 235mm wide tyres.

Lexus says the Morizo debuts a new structure to its front lower suspension arms to improve steering response, while the structure has been updated to maintain the levels of noise, vibration, and harshness suppression expected of its cars.

Inside, the Morizo RR isn’t a stripped-out racer. Aluminium pedals, a unique digital instrument cluster, and a range of racy looking colour combinations for what look like a version of the seats from bigger cars like the GS F.

In Japan, the standard Morizo RR will be offered in an extra special Bespoke Build guise.

Just 100 will be offered through a lottery system, and the winners will be able to customise additional facets of the car’s exterior like the brake caliper colours, and cabin details like the stitching, seatbelt colours, and trim materials.

Dimensions	Lexus LBX Morizo RR
Length	4190mm
Width	1840mm
Height	1535mm
Wheelbase	2580mm

MORE: Everything Lexus LBX

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Scott Collie

Contributor

Scott Collie

Contributor

Scott Collie is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. Scott studied journalism at RMIT University and, after a lifelong obsession with everything automotive, started covering the car industry shortly afterwards. He has a passion for travel, and is an avid Melbourne Demons supporter.