The new Lexus LBX Morizo RR may be a performance model, but the Japanese manufacturer has chosen to play the long game with its pint-size hero by prioritising emissions compliance over outputs.

Despite sharing an engine with the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris, the 206kW/390Nm LBX Morizo RR produces 15kW and 10Nm less than its hot hatch cousins.

It’s also $13,500 more expensive than the Toyota GR Yaris GTS automatic, and $6000 more than the Toyota GR Corolla GTS automatic.

It would be easy to assume that Lexus has simply detuned the engine for this application, but a local spokesperson has confirmed a deeper reason behind disparity.

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“The LBX Morizo RR has a Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) to trap a lot of harmful emissions in the warmup stage, and that does affect the power of the car,” the spokesperson told CarExpert.

“The GPF actually makes this vehicle compliant to Euro 6c emission standards, whereas without that, it would be only Euro 6b. So the GPF is future-proofing the car for Euro 6c.”

Both the GR Corolla and Yaris are Euro 6b compliant.

Despite the fitment of a power-draining GPF, the LBX Morizo RR can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds, just 0.1 seconds slower than the beefier, lighter GR Yaris. The Morizo tops out at 230km/h.