Lexus GX Hybrid May Finally Be Happening After 20 Years

Electrified Except for One

Lexus has had electrified vehicles in its lineup for a little over 20 years. Today, just about every model in its lineup gets some form of hybrid assistance. From the subcompact and not-available-in-the-U.S LBX, all the way to the full-sized LX, hybrid power is, at the very least, an option on all Lexus vehicles save for one.

In case you missed the headline, that model is the GX. For over 20 years, the midsize luxury SUV never once received an electric assist. For most of its life, it had V8 power under the hood, and it's only now taken the downsized turbo route with its boosted 3.4-liter V6. Given Lexus' strong hybrid lineup, it's rather odd that it's still leaving out the GX, but that might change soon.

A Trademark Filing Gives a Hint

The subject of the hybrid GX had been brought up several times already, but this might finally be the moment that it comes to fruition. A more recent trademark filing looks promising. The application was filed fairly recently in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It was dated March 16, 2026, and its status is currently under examination.

The name is GX550h, which probably isn't too surprising at this point. But it appears the Lexus is dead serious about securing its name. A look at the global trademark database reveals trademark applications in Cambodia, Canada, Peru, and the Philippines, among others. The question now is, what kind of powertrain could it get?

Under the Hood

There are two possibilities as to what could be under the hood of the GX550h. Wishful thinking says the hybridized 3.4-liter V6 straight from the LX700h with 457 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. That's a huge jump from the GX550's 349 hp and 479 lb-ft figure, and it should make it a proper hot rod.

Realistically, though, it could end up with the now-familiar 2.4-liter turbo hybrid arrangement used in several Toyota and Lexus vehicles today. After all, that's already fitted to the Land Cruiser (Prado) hybrid, and it's good for 326 hp and 426 lb-ft, which is less than the 3.4-liter V6 that's already in the GX550. While it'll surely be a lot less thirsty than the six-cylinder, we're not too sure whether GX customers will accept the idea of a four-cylinder model. In the meantime, we wait, and we'll hopefully get answers soon.

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