The Land Cruiser has enjoyed worldwide success during its 72-year history and now Toyota has launched a new one that it says 'focuses on its traditional strengths of quality, durability and reliability to tackle the toughest conditions'.
We could soon see the new Land Cruiser will capitalize on the retro charm of its predecessor with its design, but underneath it will feature a new platform to help deliver better off-road prowess and on-road drivability.
In terms of design, the new Land Cruiser expresses a 'back to the roots' look according to Toyota. This is achieved with a bold profile combined with a cliff front edge, protective cladding around the perimeter and angled surfaces. If you damage your Land Cruiser during an off-road trip, Toyota has designed the body parts to be easier to remove.
To help give the Land Cruiser extra capacity to traverse the rough stuff, Toyota has ensured the front-end rear overhang is as small as possible and driver visibility is aided by a relatively low window line.
For those looking for an old-school design, a First Edition version will be sold alongside the standard car. It will feature some exterior changes like round headlights, different colored trim panels, and some exclusive paint finishes. Only 3,000 examples of the First Edition will be made for Europe.
The new Land Cruiser will use body-on-frame construction on Toyota's GA-F platform, which is said to significantly improve off-road performance. A removable front anti-roll bar also offers greater off-road flexibility. Road ride should also be better, with Toyota claiming the new frame is 50 per cent stiffer and 'base suspension performance has been improved'.
Since its launch, the Land Cruiser will come with a 2.8 liter turbocharged diesel engine with 201bhp. It will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with a towing capacity of 3,500kg. In early 2025, a 48-volt mild hybrid Land Cruiser will join the mix – marking the first time the car has received electric power.
There will be a choice of five or seven seat configurations for the Land Cruiser and inside it will get the latest technology to help it take on the Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender. While there's a large central touchscreen, there are also plenty of chunky buttons that are easy to operate when traveling over bumpy terrain.
Customer orders will open later this year, with first deliveries expected in early 2024. There's no word yet on pricing for the new Land Cruiser, but we expect it to start at £50,000.
by: Alastair Crooks
