The premium brand does not rule out developing such a car if customers want it. “If our customers need a pickup truck, we can create it, but for now this issue is not on the agenda,” Drive quotes Lexus chief engineer Takashi Watanabe. He added that if the pickup does appear in the Lexus lineup, it will not be based on existing Toyota models such as the Hilux, Tacoma or Tundra, and will not receive an internal combustion engine version. This will be an original development with an electric power plant.
People started talking about the Lexus pickup truck a few months ago, when an independent designer, known on social networks under the nickname Theottle, showed his vision of this model. He published unofficial renderings showing the new GX using the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport PreRunner platform. This is how the result was a large premium pickup truck, which, according to a number of Western media, could well become in demand in the US market.
However, there are unsuccessful examples in automotive history. For example, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, which failed in the market, was discontinued just two years after its launch. Another reason against the Lexus pickup is that the segment is the responsibility of Toyota, which sells a luxury version of the Tundra called the Capstone, so there could be some internal competition.
However, Lexus is already experimenting with non-traditional segments – earlier this year the brand launched the LM minivan on the global market, which first appeared in 2019 and was exclusive to China for several years. Debuting earlier this year, the second-generation Lexus LM will be sold in 60 countries around the world, including Japan, Australia and Europe.
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