Imagine wanting something so badly that you're willing to wait a year to get it, and pay a premium price too! That's precisely the situation unfolding in Australia with the Lexus LBX Morizo RR. This isn't your average luxury car; it's a high-performance machine, and demand is through the roof.
News has broken that the Australian allocation of the Lexus LBX Morizo RR has completely sold out for the next 12 months. Think of it as the ultra-luxurious cousin of the Toyota GR Yaris, packing serious performance in a small package. But here's where it gets controversial... despite a drive-away price tag nearing a whopping $85,000, Aussies are lining up (virtually, of course!) to get their hands on one. Is it really worth that much? Let's find out.
Lexus Australia initially secured only around 100 units of the LBX Morizo RR for the Australian market for the first year after its launch in May. And this is the part most people miss... even before the first cars graced showroom floors, the order books were overflowing. That gives you an idea of just how sought-after this vehicle is. This limited availability is a key factor driving the long wait times.
According to Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas, "The LBX's latest addition, the Morizo edition, has literally sold out, and now we're trying to fight for stock." He made this statement to the media, highlighting the immense pressure the company is under to meet customer demand. "We've got a big backlog of customers that we're trying to get stock for, so we can try and reduce that lead time for them, but [it's] very popular and it's only been around a very short time."
Pappas further elaborated, "We've already pretty much taken up all our stock, and now we've already got a 12-month delay [order bank]." This paints a clear picture: if you're just placing your order now, you're looking at a year-long wait. It's currently unknown how many LBX Morizo RR units will be allocated to Australia in its second year of production. Considering that this isn't a high-volume model on a global scale, supply will likely remain limited, meaning those wait times could potentially persist.
Pappas believes that the unique nature of the vehicle – a specialized performance car with limited direct competition – is what makes customers willing to endure such a long wait. "It's a real passion product," he stated, addressing concerns about maintaining customer patience. He emphasized the importance of clear and consistent communication through dealerships. "It's all about communication through the dealers. I'm big on the whole customer expectation side; communication and engagement with our dealers, and they're very good at it."
To keep dealers informed and equipped to manage customer expectations, Lexus Australia holds regular "town hall" meetings. "We hold a lot of town halls [meetings] with our dealers very regularly; they're kept abreast as to what's going on, and then they can clearly communicate to the people that are waiting for an LBX Morizo."
The Lexus Australia boss is confident that the enthusiasm for the Morizo RR will sustain customer interest. "But you're right, they [customers] are very passionate about that sort of performance line. The feedback we've got on that car at the moment from the market is extremely positive." And this presents another controversial point! Are these customers too passionate? Is all the hype justified, or is this a case of clever marketing creating artificial scarcity?
Despite the considerable wait times, the LBX Morizo RR commands a premium price. The automatic-only model starts at $76,490 plus on-road costs. To put that into perspective, that's about $13,500 more than a Toyota GR Yaris GTS auto! You're paying a significant premium for the Lexus badge and the added luxury features.
The competition in the small performance SUV segment is relatively sparse. The Volkswagen T-Roc R starts at $64,990 plus on-roads, while the Mercedes-AMG GLA35 comes in at a starting price of $99,000 plus on-roads. The Morizo RR sits somewhere in between, offering a unique blend of performance and luxury.
Under the hood, the Morizo RR boasts a 206kW/390Nm version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine initially seen in the GR Yaris. Interestingly, it's been slightly detuned from 221kW/400Nm due to stricter emissions regulations. This powerplant is paired with a variable all-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Notably, a six-speed manual version offered in Japan isn't available in Australia, which may disappoint some purists.
So, what are your thoughts? Is the Lexus LBX Morizo RR worth the year-long wait and the hefty price tag? Is the hype justified, or is it just a case of clever marketing? Would you be willing to wait that long for a car, no matter how special it is? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
