2022 Lexus LX already a sellout before even hitting Australian showrooms

There’s an old saying that throwing enough money at a problem can fix anything. Not these days, it seems.

Because, if you thought the nine to 12-month waiting time for a new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series was a problem, spare a thought for well-heeled Lexus buyers who hanker for a new LX.

Even though it’s not even in showrooms yet, demand has been so high that it’s a sell-out.

And if you aren’t on the list yet, allow another year before you’ll be driving away in the high-end off-roader.

Lexus Australia has been granted a 50-per-month allowance of the new LX, and every one of those has already been snapped up as a pre-order.

But since when did high-end luxury cars become scarce?

According to Lexus, there are a couple of factors at work here.

The vehicle itself has never appealed to a broader market than the new LX with its four-, five- or seven-seat layouts giving it a much wider audience than before.

It’s also the first all-new LX in 14 years, so there’s a bit of pent-up demand there, too.

And since it’s built at the same Japanese factory that builds the LandCruiser, there’s not much scope for squeezing out a few extra LXs to satisfy even the rich people of the world.

Then there’s the now-accepted problems with global supply chains and supplies of electronics to contend with and, suddenly, even a vehicle that starts at just under $150,000 can’t be bought for any money.

The other factor is that many would-be LX buyers are looking to move up from a LandCruiser.

That’s kind of Lexus fulfilling its original brief to the letter by offering a move up from a Toyota while still keeping things in the family, but it’s also part of the problem.

And don’t feel too sorry for LX buyers; Lexus Australia chief executive, John Pappas, told CarsGuide that the model mix is “quite rich” with more purchasers opting for the $210,000, four-seat-only Ultra Luxury model than first forecast.

“More than 10 per cent of orders are for the Ultra Luxury,” he said, “and about 25 per cent are for the ($171,8000) F Sport model.”