- In an update posted to Lexus.com last week, the brand announced a production pause for the TX 550h+ and cited that the model’s return was already in progress
- That page has since been updated to reflect the cancellation of the TX 550h+ and it does not imply the model will return
- The TX 550h+’s cancellation may be in preparation for the fully electric TZ and forthcoming Century SUV, which uses the same platform and powertrain, and is expected to arrive in the next few years
TX 550h+ Confusion: Production Pause vs. Cancellation
In an unusual case of off-cycle and unclear Lexus news, last week the Lexus.com TX PHEV product page was updated to say that Lexus was pausing production of the TX 550h+. The exact wording on the page read:
“Production of the TX 550h+ will pause after the 2026 model year, and plans are already underway to support its upcoming return.”
Wording here is important because the second part of this statement clearly implies that the TX 550h+ will soon return making this appear to be a brief production pause.
Updated more recently, the same page now sends a very different message:
“Only a few 2026 TX 550h+ vehicles remain. We also invite you to explore our full line of luxury SUVs, with electrified models that include the TX 500h Performance Hybrid and the RX 450h+ Plug-in Hybrid. And the upcoming all-electric TZ models are set to usher in an exciting new era of three-row luxury.
When news of the model’s production delay was first announced, fans and shoppers expressed concern about the availability of Lexus largest PHEV model. While the TX 550h+ has been a low volume production model, it does stand out as one of the few full size, plug-in hybrid luxury crossovers available to purchase. It’s also the only model in the TX lineup to have a V6 engine, something many Lexus fans have appreciated about the 550h+ model.
Now any hopes for the model’s return appear unlikely as wording makes clear that Lexus is inviting shoppers elsewhere in its product portfolio with models like the RX 450h+, TX 500h, or to wait for the upcoming all-electric TZ 450e.
The flip flop in messaging is uncommon for Lexus, and it does leave an open question: Was the TX initially paused and then abruptly discontinued, or was this just a messaging mishap from the start?
New Options for Hybrid, PHEV, and BEV Shoppers
While the TX 550h+ was a low production volume vehicle, Lexus is not without new options for buyers looking for hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or fully electric crossovers.
The RX 450h+ uses a similar PHEV system, though mated to a four cylinder engine instead of a V6. It’s a decidedly different experience being short two cylinders and one row of seats, but buyers looking for a plug-in hybrid Lexus do have the RX and NX to consider.
If shoppers want a hybrid TX, the TX 500h is certainly the closest option for disenfranchised TX 550h+ shoppers. It’s the same model with a standard hybrid powertrain, but no plug-in functionality. Lexus also appears to be preparing a new hybrid model with the recent TX 400h trademark.
Lexus also recently revealed the TZ, a fully electric three-row crossover similar in size to the TX. The TZ is expected to arrive in showrooms later this year for buyers wanting to make the jump to full battery power.
Toyota’s Century ultra-luxury brand is expected to make an entrance into new global markets over the next two years and when it debuted in 2023, the Century SUV uses the same GA-K unibody platform as well as the identical plug-in hybrid system found in the TX 550h+. While the Century SUV is expected to be nearly double the cost of the TX 550h+, it is rumored to arrive in Lexus dealer showrooms soon.
From RX to TX to TZ to Century, Lexus offers plenty of electrified options for discerning buyers, but the TX 550h+’s demise is likely to remain a question mark without clear answers.
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