The Lexus LX600 gets a serious makeover on the road, and it could serve as your own ‘cabin in the woods’
Since when does Lexus make SUVs that are perfect for off-roading? They don’t, at least not officially. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t commission your own custom build, which is exactly what the LX600 turned out to be.
First, a little backstory on the latest generation LX, which was revealed back in 2021 as a more luxurious version of the J300 series Toyota Land Cruiser, with North American consumers in mind. At its peak, that’s a decent premium SUVswith abundant performance.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6, rated at 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. If you wanted to buy one today, it would cost you upwards of $92,915, which to be fair is a lot of money for a people mover that will do 0-60 mph in just 6.9 seconds. It’s decent, but nothing special.
What’s special is this particular 2022 model, which was built for charity by Overland Expo earlier this year, and later modified by Mule Expedition Outfitters. It is currently open to the highest bidder, with all proceeds going to the Overland Expo Foundation. We’ve covered this truck before, in anticipation of the auction deadline, which is today.
With just over two hours left in the proceedings, the highest bid reached $90,000, a huge amount.
There are a lot of adjustments to be made, so let’s start with what we can see. The body is finished in silver, with the front end featuring a custom ARB Summit Mk II bumper, ARB Intensity IQ variable focus lights, and a custom 12.5k pound winch with industrial line. At the back, you get a CBI swing-out bumper, a Prinsu roof rack and Vision X LED surround lights.
Other visual modifications include a 23Zero Armadillo A2 rooftop tent, a 23Zero Peregrine 270 canopy, drag strips and panels, and a set of black 17-inch Icon Compression alloys with 33×12.50-inch Kenda Klever RT tires. There is also a spare wheel mounted on the rear swing stand.
Mechanically, you have a modified suspension with Total Chaos front control arms and rear links, as well as Radflo remote shocks. As for the aforementioned twin-turbo V6, it’s also been modified (slightly) to feature the Optima’s yellow roof battery and a MagnaFlor Overland series exhaust system.
Finally, we come to the interior, which looks pretty normal for both front and rear passengers. It gets heated and ventilated black leather seats, wood trim, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, a sunroof, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It is worth noting that the cruise control system has been disabled in favor of a custom front bumper. I think this should not be a problem for adventure seekers.
Photo: Bring a Trailer
As for the cargo compartment, you’ll find additional modifications – such as a Goose Gear Ultimate Chef sliding shelf storage system, a refrigerator, an additional power management system with a custom housing, an auxiliary battery, a first aid kit, an outdoor table and chairs, a custom tool kit, and a portable water jug (with tap), and two-way radio.
You could easily spend a lot of time out in the wilderness with this Lexus SUV, and given the amount of work that went into it, you probably should — just so none of it goes to waste.
Better alternatives?
You can definitely find some, because as far as overland vehicles go, this Lexus truck is kind of a tweener. It’s not a strong enough core that you can live comfortably in it for months, rather than just days or even weeks. Some people actually do that, believe it or not. They leave the comforts of their homes just so they can live in the middle of nowhere for long periods of time.
You can find these individuals sharing their experiences on YouTube, and for nature and adventure lovers, I advise you to start browsing these channels. you will not regret it.
Anyway, what most of these people (those who take driving seriously) have in common is the fact that their off-roaders are designed for off-roading first and foremost, unlike the Lexus LX.
We’re talking about custom Land Rover Defenders or something like a Mercedes Sprinter adventure van with a cool bedroom on the roof. You could live off this hostility for years, not months, if you wanted to. All you need is fresh water, a set of amenities that are easy to install, and you’re good to go.
You’ll also need a turbo diesel, because there aren’t a lot of gas stations in the wilderness, at least not everywhere, and for example, the twin-turbo V6 in the Lexus LX may not be an ideal engine for this type of car. Lifestyle. For the occasional vacation, yes, but if road travel is a lifestyle for you, I recommend a dedicated diesel truck or SUV.
Then there’s the small matter of the roof tent, which doesn’t feel as wide (or thick) in a Lexus. Here’s an example of what you might consider a great off-roader’s bedroom, as shown in this Jeep Gladiator.
(Tags for translation)Auction
