Is the LX600 really an off-road SUV? Well, if you are the JAOS of Japan, definitely. JAOS, a Japanese supplier of off-road parts, showed off its off-road racing version of the Lexus LX600 at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon this week. The LX has never been so rough before, and we want one.
The JAOS LX600 participated in the Baja 1000 race
When you want to prove you’re tough, head to the Baja 1000 race. The 1,000-mile race through the desert of the Baja Peninsula will tear apart even the toughest of trucks and SUVs. The race, held from 15 to 20 November 2022, saw the participation of 276 entrants. The race is so grueling that only 135 participants arrived.
it ran in the Stock Full Class, which is for vehicles that are minimally modified. While it’s mostly stock, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t undergone a near-complete teardown. In fact, the team at Jaos stripped everything from the LX600 and stripped it down to the bare frame so they could weld it into a roll cage. That cage is required by the rules to protect the driver and navigator in the event of an accident.
Could you build this off-road LX600?
JAOS kept the stock engine and transmission from the LX600, but added a lot. Shock company KYB stepped in to sponsor some special 14-way adjustable shocks. JAOS added fenders, light bars and racing seats. He also beefed up the tires, up to Toyo Open Country and JAOS brand wheels. He also added coil-over shocks, lights and a tubular bumper. But overall, it didn’t add much to the .
The LX600 is a Land Cruiser, but not the US version
The 2023 LX 600 remains on the GA-F platform, meaning it shares much of its chassis with the new Toyota Tundra. But more importantly, it also shares most of the core parts with what the rest of the world gets, but not the US. That means it gets a suspension specifically engineered for both on-road capabilities and serious off-road capabilities.
Of course the Lexus has a giant flowing Lexus grille and low overhangs up front that limit some of that off-road ability that JAOS removed. Regardless, it has Toyota’s magical Crawl Control, which can make even this huge SUV dig up sand or mud
LX 600 is Lexus’ largest SUV. The list of features and options that Lexus has for the LX 600 can drive you crazy. Consider that you can get this seven-seater in an ultra-luxe four-seat trim that transforms the seatback into a roomy lounger bigger than some New York City studios, with 43 inches of rear-seat footroom. There’s so much footroom that Lexus even adds a fold-out footrest behind the passenger seat.
The JAOS version amplifies off-road capabilities
The Tokyo Auto Salon is one of the largest auto shows in the world and it makes sense that JAOS wants to be there. The company also makes a variety of skid guards for the LX as well as fender flares and other custom parts, according to . Since these are Japanese custom parts, they are not common on US LX600s.
