Radical Drift Conversion of the Lexus LBX
The Morizo RR version of the Lexus LBX is already a very powerful car, offering performance on par with the Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla, but in a more premium package. However, for the Kazama Industries team, this was not enough. When they decided to prepare the LBX for the Formula D drift championship, simple suspension modifications were insufficient.
The Heart of the Drift Car: A Powerful Engine
This radical project, presented at the Tokyo Auto Salon, differs not only in appearance but also features a completely new powertrain. Instead of the original 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, under the hood now sits the legendary Toyota 2JZ engine. Its displacement has been increased to 3.6 liters, and it is equipped with a single turbocharger.
The team is still working on perfecting the engine, but upon completion, it is expected to produce over 1000 horsepower. Since this is a drift car, the all-wheel drive of the standard LBX has been replaced with rear-wheel drive. A new five-speed sequential gearbox and a racing fuel tank have also been installed.
Aggressive Exterior and Chassis
Externally, the LBX received a custom body kit from Artisan Spirits. The kit includes wide fenders on both axles, a massive carbon fiber splitter, a hood with air intakes, and a huge rear wing more suited for time attack cars.
Under the widened fenders are Rays wheels with Yokohama Advan AD09 tires. The braking system is provided by Wilwood mechanisms, and the suspension has been completely replaced with a tuned setup configured for drift competition. An electric power steering system was also installed, specifically designed for the extreme steering angles required for precise slip angle initiation and controlled transitions.
Related Project Based on the GR86
Kazama Industries did not limit themselves to just the LBX. At the same event in Tokyo, they presented a wild drift version of the GR86. Like the LBX, it is equipped with the same 3.6-liter 2JZ engine, also tuned for an output of around 1000 horsepower. The GR86 uses many components shared with the LBX: Rays wheels, Wilwood brakes, a sequential gearbox, and an aggressive wide-body kit that leaves no doubt about the car’s purpose.
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Such projects demonstrate how deep the modification of production cars for professional sports can be. Transforming a compact premium crossover into a rear-wheel-drive monster with over a thousand horsepower is a bold step that expands the perception of the platform’s capabilities. Interestingly, a similar project is being created in parallel based on a sports coupe, indicating the versatility of the chosen technical base. Such transformations emphasize that for serious competitions, sometimes it is not enough to simply refine the factory design, but rather to completely replace its key components, essentially creating a new car under the original body.