Lexus and Expedition Overland have turned the LX 570 flagship SUV into the most capable version of itself. Set to debut at the 10-day-long Rebelle Rally on October 8, the Lexus J201 Concept owes its name to the Lexus LX 570’s internal chassis and platform code, URJ201. Cutting straight to the chase, this is a lifted SUV powered by a supercharged 550-horsepower V8 engine and kitted with an array of performance parts.
At the front, there’s a CBI Offroad bumper
fitted with a winch and 30-inch (762-mm) light bar from Rigid Industries. The
rear bumper also comes from CBI Offroad and is equipped with a ladder, dual
swing-outs, spare tire, Baja Designs S2 Sport Lighting, and Scepter 5-gallon
water cans.
The Lexus J201 rides on 17 x 8-inch Evo
Corse DakarZero wheels wrapped with 285/70 R17 General Grabber X3 all-terrain
tires. Look closely through the spokes and you’ll also notice drilled front and
rear rotors with Super Sport performance brake pads and color-matched calipers.
The extra stopping power is needed because
the Lexus J201’s 5.7-liter V8 is boosted to 550 HP and 745 Nm of
torque via a Magnusson TVS 1900 supercharger. To remove any doubt that the
Lexus off-roader means business, you should also know it features performance
differentials front and rear with air lockers, a snorkel and an off-road
compressor mount system. That’s not all; compared to the standard LX 570, the
upgraded Icon Vehicle Dynamics suspension raises the J201 by an additional 4.8
inches (122 mm) at the front axle and 4.1 inches (104 mm) at the rear axle.
Inside, the J201 brings upgrades such as
an ARB Linx Accessory Interface to control the auxiliary lighting, air lockers,
and compressor, as well as aluminum travel cases and a drawer module for the
trunk. The rugged SUV is also equipped with a roof rack system and 40-inch roof
light bar.
The Lexus J201 will be driven in the 2020
Rebelle Rally by the defending champions, Rachelle Croft and Taylor Pawley of
The X Elles team. The women-only event spans over 2,000 kilometers of challenging terrain and climates throughout California and Nevada.