OK, Wait. What’s the Deal With the New Land Cruiser?
Last year, there was quite a bit of talk circulating about the discontinuation of the Toyota Land Cruiser. Some felt it was about time. Others were flabbergasted. Rumors were rampant of whether or not this famed and rugged off-roading Toyota SUV was really discontinued.
Flash forward a few months and new info hits the media. We wrote about the possibility of a new hybrid Land Cruiser. Once this news entered the scene we wondered first whether it was true and second whether it would make it to the U.S.
So far, Toyota has been incredibly vague in their limited statements. At this point it’s still not totally clear what’s going on with the New Toyota Land Cruiser, including when or whether an official U.S. release date will be announced.
The New Toyota Land Cruiser
According to CarsGuide in Australia, the new 300 Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to be a “stripped-out off-roader.” The new generation Land cruiser will receive a full makeover including improved frame strength. It’s going back to its utilitarian roots –– so we’re told.
In addition, the 300 Series is said to give buyers three different powertrain options. We’re pretty certain the 2.8 liter turbo-diesel won’t make it to the states. If the New Toyota Land Cruiser does hit U.S. production, it will most likely offer only the new 3.5 liter twin-turbo V6 engine and its hybrid counterpart. They’ll be available only in four-wheel drive.
“What I would say to our loyal LandCruiser owners is one thing they can be sure of whatever we do with LandCruiser in the future is we will make sure that car is every bit as capable and lives up to the legend that is LandCruiser in the future regardless of powertrain…We will move as we have to move, but we will never bring a LandCruiser to market that is not capable of doing the things that people want it to do – because LandCruiser is an icon. One thing we’ve learnt is don’t mess with the LandCruiser.”
Sean Hanley, Australia’s vice-president of sales and marketing
evolved quite a bit since this classic 70 Series.
Toyota Land Cruiser in the U.S.
True, the Land Cruiser isn’t a huge seller in the U.S. anymore. It’s expensive luxury price tag and internal competition from other popular family-sized SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner or the Toyota Sequoia.
Additionally, the U.S. also has the Lexus LX which is essentially the exact same car as the Land Cruiser. Same frame, same capabilities, just a slightly higher price tag. But we want to know. Is the Land Cruiser dead in America? Or will the 300 Series make to U.S. production?
So far we see that the Australian release date has been moved to 2021. What sort of timeline can we predict for an American release date? It’s really hard to say. We can only guess, and cross our fingers that there is still a U.S. release date on the Toyota calendar.
Toyota hasn’t been exactly forthcoming about the mysterious 300 Series Land Cruiser. It’s definitely building up a little suspense as people around the world begin to move to the edge of their seats as the upcoming release of the new Toyota Land Cruiser grows nearer. What exactly does Toyota have up their sleeve?
