Lexus LX700h Coming As Range-Topping Hybrid For Luxury Off-Road SUV

The Toyota Motor Corporation has filed a trademark application for the name "LX700h" with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. The trademark was discovered by the 4thGenTacoma forum, while CarBuzz discovered the same filing with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, USPTO, and Mexican intellectual property office. This indicates that a hybrid Lexus LX must be in the cards with a global rollout planned. We agree with its assessment, as the "h" at the end of the nomenclature has been part of Lexus' hybrid range since the introduction of the Lexus CT200h more than a decade ago.

The figure Lexus chose is a bit of a mystery, though. The highest figure ever used was 600 on the previous-generation LS 600h, equipped with a 5.0-liter V8, two electric motors, and nickel-metal hydride battery packs. Despite the name, the power output was only 438 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque.

This might point to a more powerful hybrid derivative or even the plug-in hybrid option we've been waiting for.

Currently, Lexus uses the 500h designation for its most powerful hybrid, built around the new 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine with a combined power output of 354 hp. That's the case with the LS luxury sedan, but a leviathan like the LX needs something more substantial. That's why it's currently only available with a 3.4-liter V6 twin-turbo with 409 hp and 479 lb-ft on tap. It easily beats the old V8's outputs of 383 hp and 403 lb-ft. With this engine under the hood, the LX uses the "600" designation.

A hybrid version of this engine is already available in the Toyota Tundra. Toyota calls the electrified powertrain i-Force Max, which has an old-school (in hybrid terms at least) self-charging integrated electric motor. The electric motor is located in a bell housing between the engine and gearbox, and it takes the combined power output up to 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque.

That's a decent improvement, and Lexus can easily add another 100 to the name, slap on an "h," and call it a day.