Facelifted sketches of Lexus GX leaked

The current generation of the Lexus GX, or the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, as it is called in some countries, has gone without visual updates since it was launched in 2009.

But what appears to be patent filing sketches and pictures of the sports utility vehicles' mid-cycle updates have been leaked on a Russian Land Cruiser Club forum.

Major changes to the GX's front end will be made to incorporate Lexus' signature grille. Gone are the awkwardly shaped headlamps and the soft-looking triple-slat grille. The sketch shows the Lexus with a new bumper, lower-profile headlights and a more aggressive, angular grille with one more slat and a gaping lower air intake opening. The vehicle's profile looks unchanged, but the rear bumper will be reshaped slightly to fit new, better-integrated horizontal reflectors.

The Toyota gets a handful of styling updates as well, including a new front bumper with higher-profile headlamps. The Prado's profile also looks unchanged, but the rear end gets restyled taillights and a reshaped license plate enclosure.