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In case you had any doubts, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is coming to America, debuting worldwide on August 1. Toyota is also prepping the Japanese version, dubbed “Prado 250 Series,” for this year. That’s after the automaker announced the SUV would be ready at the end of last year. The significance of the three-row Prado 250 Series is that it previews the new Land Cruiser the U.S. will get. 

What kind of power will the new Land Cruiser have?

2023 Toyota Prado rear
2023 Toyota Prado | Toyota

Japan’s Best Car reports that two engines will be available in the Japanese model: a 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder and a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid. The latter will be the same as the one in the new Tacoma pickup. However, we doubt the diesel engine will make it into a U.S. Land Cruiser.

As for the hybrid, it will feature 243 kW hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Supplementing this package is a 36-kW motor fed by a 1.87-kWh battery. There’s also speculation that a 2.7-liter engine might find its way into the Prado. If so, it would be the base power plant because the gas engine has no hybrid system or turbocharging.  

Is the new Land Cruiser a large or midsize SUV?

The upcoming Prado-derived Lexus GX will pack the hybrid four-cylinder or a twin-turbo V6. Whether the V6 will make its way into the U.S. Land Cruiser or stay exclusive to the GX is unknown. We know the new Prado gets a GR Sport version that Toyota sprinkles over several models overseas and is available in the Corolla stateside. 

Because the new Prado is larger than the current version, Toyota will probably market it as a full-size SUV. However, its dimensions suggest it’s a midsize SUV. The overall length is almost 193 inches, and the wheelbase measures 122 inches. Those are the same dimensions as the Chevy Blazer and similar to the Ford Explorer. 

When will deliveries happen in Japan?

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (European model)
2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (European model) | Toyota

The new Prado is expected to debut on August 2, with deliveries slated for early 2024, barring no further delays. It was supposed to arrive last year, but other vehicle development and the current Prado’s sales prompted Toyota to push back the new model’s release. 

As we inch closer to the unveilings, we’ll have more images and details about the new Prado and Land Cruiser. Until then, we have Toyota’s teaser to whet your appetite.

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Thom Taylor

Thom Taylor is a celebrated automotive journalist. He was awarded the Top 100 Most Influential People in Hot Rodding from Hot Rod Magazine, and was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame and the National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame. He’s a member of SEMA and the NHRA.

Thom has authored a number of books, including Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle and several guides for drawing vehicles like a pro, which pull from his distinguished ventures as an automotive illustrator.

Thom joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2019, and focuses his coverage on new vehicle releases, design, and the latest features and tech in the industry. His tenure of 25 years writing about the industry gives him a unique context for the auto news he covers, whether it’s part of the Rusty Monday series or the latest news from Chevy. Thom has built two complete cars from the ground up and driven vintage roadsters at the Indy 500.