In November 2024, TEAM JAOS, backed by renowned SUV and 4WD parts manufacturer JAOS, made headlines by achieving their long-awaited first finish and class victory in the BAJA 1000—widely considered the world’s toughest off-road race. Last time, they competed with a LEXUS LX600 “OFFROAD”-based vehicle, but this time, they are taking on the challenge with a hybrid model: the LEXUS GX550h “OVERTRAIL.” In July 2025, this new machine showcased glimpses of its high performance during a domestic shakedown test.

TEAM JAOS has officially announced its entry in the 58th SCORE BAJA 1000, scheduled to take place in November 2025, with a hybrid vehicle based on the LEXUS GX550h “OVERTRAIL.” This challenge goes beyond a mere motorsports entry—it is a symbolic effort to showcase Japanese automotive engineering and environmental responsiveness on the world’s premier stage. A domestic shakedown test with the new vehicle was conducted in July 2025.

For this season, TEAM JAOS has shifted from the previously used LEXUS LX600 “OFFROAD” to the new hybrid-equipped LEXUS GX550h “OVERTRAIL.” Although development began from scratch, the team successfully completed the vehicle in a short time by applying the experience gained over three years of racing activities.

The shakedown test was conducted over seven days. Despite encountering some minor hybrid-specific issues, the vehicle ran steadily without major problems, giving a clear impression of its strong capabilities. The experience accumulated with the LX600 was clearly reflected in the GX550h.

As with last year, the test was held at two domestic off-road courses designed to simulate BAJA 1000 terrain. A wide range of components—including newly designed shock absorbers, coil springs, tires, brakes, and seats—were put through rigorous evaluation. The vehicle will now undergo final confirmation tests before being shipped to Mexico.

TEAM JAOS’s new competition vehicle is based on the GX550h, which combines a 2.4-liter inline-four turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor in a hybrid system. The system outputs approximately 330 horsepower and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to integrated motor clutch control, the vehicle supports EV driving and regenerative braking—marking it as a state-of-the-art hybrid model.

TEAM JAOS has made only minimal modifications to the GX550h in accordance with SCORE’s “Stock Full Class” regulations.

While components such as the suspension, tires & wheels, and brakes have been reinforced, other changes are limited to the addition of safety equipment. Notably, powertrain modifications from the production model are prohibited—everything remains completely stock.

Consequently, the Multi-Terrain Select system, which allows for switching driving modes based on surface conditions, remains intact. This means the challenge will be a true test of the production model’s capabilities and durability.

The 2025 BAJA 1000 will begin on Monday, November 10 (local time), with the race scheduled to run from November 14 to 15 (Saturday). As in previous years, this publication will cover the event on-site in Baja California, Mexico, reporting on TEAM JAOS’s progress.

Furthermore, this year’s race updates will be available in real time. For up-to-the-minute coverage, be sure to check TEAM JAOS’s official website and social media channels.

PHOTO｜JAOS
TEXT｜Kazutoshi AKimoto 秋元一利
PUBLISHED｜2025
SOURCE｜Cal Vol.66
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