Why the Lexus LBX Morizo has less power than its cheaper Toyota GR cousins

The new Lexus LBX Morizo RR may be a performance model, but the Japanese manufacturer has chosen to play the long game with its pint-size hero by prioritising emissions compliance over outputs.

Despite sharing an engine with the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris, the 206kW/390Nm LBX Morizo RR produces 15kW and 10Nm less than its hot hatch cousins.

It’s also $13,500 more expensive than the Toyota GR Yaris GTS automatic, and $6000 more than the Toyota GR Corolla GTS automatic.

It would be easy to assume that Lexus has simply detuned the engine for this application, but a local spokesperson has confirmed a deeper reason behind disparity.

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“The LBX Morizo RR has a Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) to trap a lot of harmful emissions in the warmup stage, and that does affect the power of the car,” the spokesperson told CarExpert.

“The GPF actually makes this vehicle compliant to Euro 6c emission standards, whereas without that, it would be only Euro 6b. So the GPF is future-proofing the car for Euro 6c.”

Both the GR Corolla and Yaris are Euro 6b compliant.

Despite the fitment of a power-draining GPF, the LBX Morizo RR can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds, just 0.1 seconds slower than the beefier, lighter GR Yaris. The Morizo tops out at 230km/h.

In terms of fuel economy, the Morizo RR is thirstier than its hot hatch cousin, consuming a claimed 9.2L/100km compared to 8.2L/100km for the GR Yaris.

However, in automatic guise the GR Corolla is the least efficient of the bunch, with a claimed fuel consumption of 9.5L/100km.

While the Morizo RR was revealed last year as a limited-run performance hero, all the signs suggest it will enjoy an extended presence in the Lexus lineup.

Euro 6c compliance will aid the longevity of the model, and the same Lexus spokesperson says there’s no volume or time limit on Morizo RR production.

Around 90 units have been allocated to the Australian market for the first year of deliveries, although Lexus has already received more than 100 orders for the pocket rocket.

MORE: Everything Lexus LBX