They still wouldn't have sold very well. US consumers are simply not interested in stripper models, except for a small enthusiast subset. And, out of folks on forums who clamor for such a vehicle, how many would have actually bought a stripper LC200 for $50-60K? I'm guessing 1 out of every 10. It's just not a big market segment.because they were not marketed properly.
they were sold beside 20k corollas in the dealer
we didn't get all the awesome trim packages, and the cheaper versions
we didn't get interesting engine and trans choices
they had the LX570 for the luxury crowd, so we should have gotten the cloth seat, no screens, coil spring, minimal plastic, ready for adventure models.
More LC200 sales would have also drug down Toyota's CAFE ratings, given the abysmal fuel economy, so they had plenty of other reasons for not investing in that platform in the US. Sure...it could have had a 1GR....but then it would have been gutless. Diesel is out of the question due to our emissions standards as well.
Or...everyone can do what I did and buy a used GX. V8...reasonable size (LC200 is too big for wheeling east of the 100th meridian)....proven drivetrain....proven reliabillity......6,500# tow rating.....better MPG than a LC200.......and Lexus luxury. $40K will get you a nice one, and you can spend a lot less (my 2007 cost $10.7K when I bought it in 2020).