This Tacoma-Based Lexus Pickup Makes A Strong Case For An Official Luxury Truck
Automakers don't think pickup trucks from luxury brands would work, so someone decided to build one on their own
The idea of a premium pickup by Lexus has floated around the automotive sphere for years, although the company had ruled out the possibility of a Lexus-branded version of the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra. Still, aftermarket company Meso Customs turned this into reality with a one-off build for SEMA 2026.
The Lexus TX1 might look like a rendering, but it is actually real. The project started almost one year ago, inspired by a CGI model by digital artist Lukemadevids. Meso Customs bought a Toyota Tacoma donor car, using GX parts and lots of 3D-printed bits to transform it into a Lexus. The reason they didn't choose the Tundra was that the full-size truck's proportions didn't align with the GX.
The front and rear ends of the Tacoma were cut off, making room for the redesigned components. With the help of a 3D printer, the team turned CAD files into body panels such as the ultra-wide fenders featuring body-colored add-ons. The grille, headlights, and hood came from a Lexus GX 550, although the front bumper had to be modified due to the extra width.
The doors and greenhouse are carried over from the Toyota, but the mirrors are sourced from the Lexus. The rear section is heavily modified, with full-width LED taillights and a custom tailgate made from a chopped GX hatch. The latter is fully functional thanks to a pair of Rivian latches, and doubles as a rear bench with a pair of heated seats and Bluetooth speakers.
Off-road upgrades
While the Lexus makeover would be enough for most builders, Meso Customs took a step further, improving the off-road credentials of the ladder-frame model.
The TX1 rides on beadlock wheels wrapped in oversized Toyo Tires Open Country R/T Trail rubber and hiding beefier brakes behind them. The suspension setup has also been upgraded with King Off-Road Racing Shocks paired with 74 Weld upper control arms, contributing to a generous ground clearance. Finally, auxiliary LEDs are mounted on the roof, front bumper, and the base of the A-pillars, matching the yellow-tinted DRLs of the GX.
The interior has yet to be shown, but a Lexus truck needs to offer higher quality materials than the equivalent Toyota in order to justify the badge.
Under the hood, the Tacoma's turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine received a SXTH Element CPLT intake system and a front-mounted intercooler. It's worth noting that Meso Customs built a Hellcat-powered Tacoma with a Tundra face for last year's SEMA Show, so they are capable of a V8 engine swap.
The company clarified that the Lexus TX1 was conceived strictly as a one-off concept rather than a conversion package intended for mass production. Still, the model proves that a Lexus with a rear bed can become a reality, if you have the money.