Toyota has pulled the covers off of the refreshed Land Cruiser 70 Series and introduced a new, light-duty Land Cruiser 250 Series with a return to basics and functionality, with the added benefit of modern safety and efficiency.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is the ubiquitous go-anywhere, do-anything off-road vehicle. Sold in more than 170 countries and relied upon to make sure you get where you need to go and bring you back, the Toyota Land Cruiser is the tried and tested solution to mobility in hostile environments. The latest range of Toyota Land Cruiser products bolsters the range, complementing the Land Cruiser 300.
Land Cruiser 250 Series
The new light-duty Land Cruiser 250 Series, the spiritual successor to the Prado, offers a blend between the rugged off-road ability that the Land Cruiser name stands for with comfort and convenience to make daily use more pleasant and agreeable. Toyota has returned to basics and has ensured that the new 250 Series is every bit as capable as its customers expect it to be.
For this, it has employed the same GF-A platform as used on the 300 Series to ensure that the off-road capabilities are not compromised, but has then added a range of new engine options, including, for the first time, a hybrid option for those looking to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. This platform is 50% stiffer and 30% more rigid overall and offers improved wheel articulation.
To further assist with the ease of use, Toyota has elected to go with electric power steering for the first time. This improves on-road comfort and reduces kickback when driving off-road. A stabilizer disconnect feature allows drivers to improve wheel articulation without sacrificing on-road handling dynamics, while the Multi-Terrain Monitor and Multi-Terrain Select ensure that the 250 Series does, in fact, go anywhere and do anything.
The new range of engine options provides a host of solutions for nearly all applications. It’s uncertain as to which powertrain options will be made available locally.
| T24A-FTS petrol 2.4-liter turbo Hybrid Direct Shift-8AT | 243 kW | 630 Nm |
| T24A-FTS petrol 2.4-liter turbo Direct Shift-8AT | 207 kW | 430 Nm |
| 1GD-FTV Diesel 2.8-liter turbo (48V system) Direct Shift-8AT | 150 kW | 500 Nm |
| 1GD-FTV Diesel 2.8-liter turbo Direct Shift-8AT | 150 kW | 500 Nm |
| 2TR-FE 2.7-liter petrol 6 Super-ECT | 120 kW | 246 Nm |
Land Cruiser 70 Series
Rather than reinventing the wheel, Toyota has elected to update the 70 Series Land Cruiser, bringing it up to speed with what the modern consumer wants while managing to retain all the traits that make the 70 Series the venerable success that it has been all these years.
The refreshed 70 Series still retails the ladder chassis arrangement that has made it durable, reliable and capable but adds a modern twist with the latest styling and mechanical enhancements. As a ‘heavy-duty’ offering, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series is built to handle the most gruelling and trying environments and remains a firm favourite in South Africa, especially in the agricultural sector.
A fresh new face and the revised interior stay true to the Land Cruiser 70 Series but add refinement and convenience for modern customers. With these additions comes the inclusion of a 1GD 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine and a 6-speed automatic gearbox to provide additional torque delivery and reduce fuel consumption, all while making the driving experience smoother and quieter.
Keyword: Global reveal of the new Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series and 250 Series