Both Toyota and Lexus have been relentless this year, presenting one model after another until they reached the stratosphere of red-carpet superstars like the 2024 Grand Highlander crossover SUV and 2024 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, plus the trio of Lexus high riders.
The first one to shine under the spotlight was the smallest crossover from the luxury division to date – the 134-hp Lexus LBX presented in Milan, Italy, as the premium hybrid-powered counterpart of the XP210-series Toyota Yaris Cross. Then the company moved stateside and featured a double ensemble to prove its powerhouse claims with the 2024 TX and 2024 GX 550.
The former is also an all-new, first-ever introduction as the sibling of the 2024 Grand Highlander that will also be produced in Princeton, Indiana, on the same unibody TNGA-K platform but with slightly more powerful common engines (2.4-liter turbo gas plus hybrid option) as well as a flagship TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid mating the 3.5-liter 2GR-FXS V6 with electricity to obtain a combined output of 406 hp. Then there was also the latter, the third generation of the rugged off-road luxury SUV that is now riding on an all-new platform – body-on-frame TNGA-F shared with the J310 Lexus LX, among many others.
As it turns out, Lexus' decision to stray away from the previous iteration's styling and also adopt a different design direction compared to the flagship LX was applauded by everyone – fans and critics alike – and all around the world. That's no easy feat, especially since the parent company Toyota has big plans for the series, which could inspire the next generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (250) that is rumored to arrive not just in Europe but also signal the nameplate's comeback to North America, too.
Anyway, it is already safe to say that the GX had a tremendous impact, both in the real world as well as across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. As far as the latter is concerned, virtual artists tried to imagine it involved in various scenarios – as an even greater off-roader, pickup truck, and more. The good folks over at YouTube's AutoYa info channel were a bit subtler, though. Instead of giving it extreme 4x4 capabilities or deriving it into a new body style, they simply took care of stuff like the unofficial visual configurator for colors – both inside and out.
Now they are at it again and now have quickly imagined the CGI looks of the potentially upcoming 'Black Line' edition for the Lexus GX 550 because we all know that many folks – especially in America – love the dark and menacing stance of vehicles that could easily become Darth Vader's ride. As such, the changes are subtle yet impactful for the "most stylish and aggressive" hypothetical trim – there's no chrome anywhere on the body and in the cabin – just black all over the place. So, do you dig it or not?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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