People who own Lexus GXs are strange. I am one, I am weird, and it doesn’t bother me. Even if people made fun of me for driving one of the “oldest” new cars on the road, I didn’t care. I bought it because of how old it was. The Lexus GX is called the Land Cruiser Prado in other parts of the world. Some of these cars are bulletproof because of their past, reputation, and V8 engines. The first-generation 2UZ engine has been known for a long time as a legend. Soon, the same stamp will be put on the second wave of 1UR. It’s a roundabout way to say that changing the GX isn’t always necessary. Only fix something that is broken. So, when the picture of the new Lexus GX, which will come out on June 8, was released on Thursday, it made the back of my neck sweat, and my heartbeat 20 beats faster. Even though it’s not the first peek we’ve seen, it gives us the most information about what’s happening. From this and other pictures, the new GX never met a right angle it didn’t like. Straight-line details, like the taillight across the back, give the car a boxy look, and tiny inserts in the rear roof pillar make it look like the top and bottom are different. The accent and what looks like a bend in the side of the back window make me think of the 80 Series. The crooked side-view mirrors make me happy because I’m sure that’s how the FJ mirrors would look today if they were still made. But the back is where the real geekery is. Why is there a small button on the back window? So, the glass goes up, and the back gate can move freely. The GX could keep using its unique swing gate, which can sometimes be annoying. The GX may get a door, but since the Land Cruiser has always had one, that would be a stretch. Maybe, and I hope not, the GX will soon get a dull, old-fashioned liftgate. But from the teasers we’ve seen so far, we can tell that the GX’s high-end looks are doomed, which is fine with me. What makes me feel bad? I’m worried that the V8 will be replaced by Toyota’s twin-turbo V6 and maybe even a hybrid system. The V8 is almost certainly on its way out. It wouldn’t be a surprise since I usually get around 13 mpg with full-time four-wheel drive, which isn’t good. On June 8, we’ll know what’s under the hood and how the back opens.
