Hybrid Lexus LX700h Looking Good for Australia

The Lexus LX700h luxury four-wheel-drive could soon be added to the Australian line-up.

A local trademark filing unearthed by CarSauce shows Toyota has submitted a filing for the LX700h badge for the Australian market, some six months after the Lexus was unveiled overseas.

Like the LX600 – the luxury version of the 300 Series LandCruiser – the LX700h is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, but with the addition of an electric motor to boost performance while improving fuel consumption and emissions.

Though exact figures haven’t been announced for the local market, overseas the LX700h has a claimed combined fuel economy rate of 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres – a minor improvement over the LX600’s 12.1L/100km.

However, it’s expected the LX700h will be far more efficient in city driving, with the vehicle able to deploy the electric motor and recuperate energy more effectively in start-stop traffic.

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Using the same hybrid powertrain found in the Toyota Tundra pick-up – albeit with a slightly more potent tune – combined performance is quoted as 341kW and 790Nm.

While Lexus has yet to announce the LX700h for Australia, overseas markets suggest the model will sit at the top of the tree – likely starting from $215,000 before on-road costs, with prices almost certain to exceed the LX600 Ultra Luxury’s price tag of $217,976 plus on-road costs.

In January 2025, Lexus Australia confirmed the off-road oriented Overtrail variant – which was unveiled at the same time as the LX700h – would be added to its local line-up.

It’s worth noting trademark filings in Australia – and particularly from Toyota – are not a strong indication of a model’s imminent arrival as they were in the past, with the Japanese brand now trademarking a wide variety of its global models in an effort to cover its tracks, while also blocking competitors from using those names.

But with the recent introduction of the GMC Yukon Denali – a luxury V8-powered SUV based on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – it appears the traditional German luxury carmakers are facing ever-increasing competition in the large SUV segment.