If the idea of a Lexus pickup truck seems odd to you, you might be in for quite a surprise. That's because the leaders of Lexus, which is a division of Toyota, are seriously considering just such a groundbreaking vehicle.

Lexus and Pickup Trucks: A Winning Combination?

In late 2015, Makoto Tanaka, the head of product planning at Lexus, gave an interview to an Australian website that focuses on cars, and he certainly had some tantalizing news to share. Tanaka said that Lexus is trying to decide if a pickup truck could be a profitable venture for the esteemed luxury brand.

Realize, though, that the idea of a premium pickup truck is not new. Over the course of the past 20 years or so, these vehicles have been appearing on roads with increasing frequency. What's more, the customers who opt for such trucks have been willing to spend relatively large amounts of money on them. On the other hand, no such pickup truck has ever become an overwhelming success. Would Lexus be able to change this trend?

Enter the Toyota Hilux

Lexus isn't planning on designing its initial pickup model from scratch. Rather, it would take the Toyota Hilux (pictured) and use its overall structure as well as most of its parts and technologies. That way, it would obviously be much cheaper for Lexus to develop its pickup prototype. It wouldn't be betting a lot of money on a product that may or may not catch on in the marketplace.

Before you get too excited and start imagining yourself in the driver's seat of a Lexus pickup, you should bear in mind that this company doesn't consider this vehicle to be one of its most important objectives. Indeed, of all the new models that the designers at Lexus are currently mulling over, this idea may be the least probable to win approval from the brand's leaders. A Lexus RX that has seven seats, for instance, is much more likely to get authorization instead of or well before a Lexus pickup. In part, that's due to the fact that Lexus customers and dealers have expressed considerable eagerness for that kind of RX.

In addition, it's unlikely that this truck would be for sale all over the globe in its early days. Instead, Lexus would probably select certain markets in which to test the popularity of this vehicle before rolling it out on a wide scale or abandoning it completely. And it's not clear which countries would be chosen for these experiments or what benchmarks of success the experiments would have to meet.

It also remains to be seen whether this pickup would be packed with top-of-the-line features, comforts and conveniences, or if it would be a less expensive vehicle with fewer frills. If Lexus opts for the latter style of truck, it could allow the brand to reach out to a new base of customers.

However much it would cost, a pickup truck would definitely fit Lexus's strategy of starting to sell more off-road vehicles.

Why the Hilux is a Perfect Choice

Because it would be based on the Toyota Hilux, the Lexus pickup truck would have instant credibility with people who are knowledgeable about this type of vehicle. After all, the Hilux enjoys a reputation as one of the toughest pickups that are currently available.

This pickup is exceedingly popular in certain places ― including parts of the Middle East and Russia ― where the driving terrain is notoriously rugged. Moreover, the 2016 Hilux is even more rigid than past models, and it has a new suspension system for greater comfort as well as extra torque and a remarkably quiet engine.

Something to Anticipate with Enthusiasm

Now, you might be someone who spends a great deal of time each week inside a pickup truck. Maybe you're even a genuine pickup fan ― someone who's part of a community of pickup owners who love to discuss and share useful information about these vehicles. And some of those people that you know probably seek out the most powerful and maybe even the most extravagant pickups that they can find. Therefore, a Lexus pickup truck could hold special appeal for you and your friends.

If so, there's much cause to be optimistic here. That is, if Lexus does choose to move forward with this pickup truck, and if that truck were to break sales records, there's every reason to believe that the brand would begin to develop new pickup models from scratch. Before long, you might find yourself driving a pickup that's the epitome of style and technological innovation in every way.

Finally, even if Lexus pickup trucks aren't yet available, you can always visit us at 3Birds Template to find a vehicle that you'll like just as much. We sell luxurious cars and SUVs with terrific values, and all of our staff members are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Please contact us as soon as you can ― we'll really look forward to talking with you.

Image: Toyota