GS69

Lexus Considering UniBody GX
& TurboCharged Engines

Lexus may consider building the next version of its GX luxury SUV on a unibody platform, and is interested in launching turbocharged engines. Wards Auto reveals that Lexus believes both steps are important to stay relevant with competitors, and to appeal to younger customers.

The 3-row Lexus GX is built with body-on-frame construction, similar to how pickup trucks are designed. That setup was formerly common to most SUVs, but in recent years almost all of the GX’s competitors have switched to lighter unibody construction. Mark Templin, Lexus U.S. group vice president, told Wards that there’s a possibility the next-generation Lexus GX will be a “car-based SUV.” However, the company isn’t rushing to replace the current GX as it has reportedly been quite successful since its launch in 2002. The 2nd-generation GX was introduced in 2009.

Competing luxury 3-row models with unibody design include the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Acura MDX, and Infiniti JX. More mainstream SUVs like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder have moved from body-on-frame to unibody structures for their latest versions.

One benefit of switching to unibody design is that it can help an automaker reduce vehicle weight. The 2012 Lexus GX weighs 5305 pounds; the 2012 BMW X5 is 4960 pounds and the 2012 Acura MDX starts from just 4550 pounds. It goes without saying that lighter vehicles tend to return better fuel economy.

Templin also told Wards that Lexus might consider turbocharged engines in the future. Many of the company’s competitors now offer smaller, turbocharged engines to help boost fuel economy. But Lexus apparently believes its current range of V-6 and V-8 engines offers comparable power and better fuel economy to competing turbo engines.

In the case of the Lexus GX, that claim doesn’t really prove true. The 2012 Lexus GX (pictured) has a 301-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 engine that is rated for just 15/20 mpg (city/highway). The 2012 BMW X5′s base engine is a 300-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine that is rated for 16/23 mpg, while the 2012 Audi Q7′s base engine is a 333-hp, supercharged V-6 that returns 16/22 mpg.

Templin says Lexus recognizes that younger buyers are more interested in turbocharged engines than prior generations of buyers. Whereas turbo engines were once thought to be unreliable, Templin told Wards that, “with young people, they [turbochargers] sound cool.” Perhaps, but we think equal power mixed with reduced fuel consumption sounds “cool” to virtually any buyer.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

maybe another indication what they consider for gsf?

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

A while back, someone from Lexus directly mentioned that the next gen GX and LX would both go unibody at their redesigns. As much as I love a true BOF SUV, this is a good move for Lexus.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

OMG, Lexus please turbocharged everything like Benz/BMW/Audi does now..............then maybe I won't switch to the dark sides

Twin Turbos V8 LS, GS and SC.........yummmm

spwolf

twin turbos while BMW has tri-turbo? Lexus needs QUAD-TURBO.

UZ214

Please make the gx/lx like the highlander or bigger rx... Not
The biggest selling point for these SUVs are they are truck based .. And crazy dependable offroad/onroad..

GoHuskers

The Bugatti has Quad-turbo already. Lexus needs bazillion turbos.......

GS69

Lexus Says Unibody GX Possible
Studies Turbos

Lexus is looking at shifting its GX SUV from a body-on-frame platform to a unibody architecture in its next iteration, a top official for the brand tells WardsAuto.

“There is a potential that at some point, when we replace the GX, we can have a car-based SUV,” Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager for Lexus in the U.S., says here during a recent ’13 ES 350 media event.

Lexus has been debating for years a 3-row, unibody, cross/utility vehicle, Templin notes. But the success of the 3-row, body-on-frame GX SUV tempered that talk, he says.

“We were so successful with the GX, nobody wanted to lose the GX.”

However, most of Lexus’ competitors offer 3-row CUVs, including Audi, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Infiniti, which just launched its new JX model in the U.S. this spring.

Ironically, Lexus had trademarked the name “JX” in the last decade, as a possible moniker for a larger CUV. Industry speculation suggested Lexus would use JX for a production 3-row CUV hinted at in two concepts, the LF-X at the 2003 Tokyo auto show and hybrid LF-Xh at the 2007 Tokyo show.

If Lexus switched the GX to a unibody platform, it would follow the path of Ford and Nissan, whose respective models, the Explorer and Pathfinder.

The new Pathfinder, due later this year, is a close cousin of the Infiniti JX.

Not wanting to slice into the Lexus RX’s share is another reason why the auto maker hasn’t pulled the trigger on a larger CUV, or compact luxury model that would compete with the Acura RDX, BMW X3 or Audi Q5.

The RX is 1 of the luxury sector’s top-selling models, racking up 82,595 sales in 2011, WardsAuto data shows, 11,776 units behind the No.1 luxury model, the BMW 3-Series.

“The RX kind of covers a big swath of the marketplace,” Templin says. “We compete with a lot of those smaller CUVs on price point, so we look like a really good value.”

A 6-cyl. ’12 BMW X3 starts at $43,600, while the slightly larger ’13 RX begins at $39,310.

Templin contends the RX also has appealed to those who may shop bigger, 3-row competitors but “don’t necessarily have to have a 3rd-row seat.”

Lexus also has multiple teams studying forced-induction engines, Templin says.

Turbocharged 4-cyl. engines are a burgeoning industry trend, melding power and efficiency.

However, Templin says Lexus is doing fine for now with its naturally aspirated V-6s, noting the 3.5L powerplant in the upcoming ES has higher horsepower and better fuel economy than some turbo I-4 competitors, including the 1.8L Mercedes-Benz C250.

The ’13 ES 350 is expected to achieve 268 hp when it goes on sale in August. Its fuel economy has not been announced.

The ’12 C250 makes 201 hp and has an estimated Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy of 21/31 mpg (11.2-7.6 L/100 km) city/highway.

Still, Templin says turbocharger reliability has come a long way, and they are desirable to younger buyers, a demographic every auto brand wants.

“There’s an older generation that remembers turbos as something being broken down, very expensive, (and that) had this turbo lag,” he says. “With young people, they sound cool.”

Templin praises the linearity of torque delivered by today’s turbos, but he notes they tend to carry a price premium compared with naturally aspirated engines.

If these happen, I ponder if they will make these RWD drive to differentiate them more from Toyota & even the RX: GX=GS & LX=LS.

LexusMan77

The changeover would fill the void of a 3 row crossover SUV. I think it would be a great strategy making the GX more car like by basing it on a car platform. It benefits the Lexus SUV lineup because it would not require the RX to grow bigger and accommodate the extra third row. This allows the RX to stay the same size and be a five seater. Then the GX would provide the just right aspect with both the RX's crossover feel and the size/luxury of the LX.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

lol what's there to study on turbo's? Toyota's made some very successful ones in the past hah

AJL0365

I 100% agree with you. The GS and LX are like in their own market. Not too many Luxury SUV out there that you can take it literally off the road with except for Land Rover & ?????? the mercedes G wagon?

No one takes them off road really anyways, but still its nice to know it these SUV somwehat exist.

So i assume that since the GX is based off the 4Runner, they will just change its basic platform and the only off road SUV toyota & Lexus will make will be the FJ, 4Runner, 70k land cruiser,
80k LX570. can the Sequioa even be considered one?

rominl

iTrader: (4)

same here. one thing i like the gx is that it can "really" be off road, a real suv. sad if that won't be the case anymore.

JessePS

This should be interesting. I just wonder why, they do not use a massive electric motor as a turbo charger?

pbm317

The FJ and 4Runner will leave the U.S. market after this generation. As well as the Land Cruiser. LX will stay on.

Unibody doesn't necessarily mean that it's not off road capable anymore. Jeep Grand Cherokees are pretty rugged and are unibody.

Och

iTrader: (3)

No serious offroader would use a 70k luxury SUV for offroading duties. There are SUVs out there that are far cheaper and perform much better offroad. Lexus is losing sales to the competition and its a very good idea to switch the GX, and hopefully the LX, to unibody platform with IRS to improve ride quality, handling, and increase interior space.