The all-new 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado will forgo its diesel engine – at least in some markets – and instead arrive packing petrol-hybrid power, according to reports that quote “company insiders” from the USA.
And now we know the engine in question is the four-cylinder petrol-hybrid from the just-released Crown, the brand’s new flagship vehicle which will launch in multiple body styles.
While several different engine setups are available in the US-spec Crown, the one reportedly earmarked for the next-generation Prado is the Hybrid Max, which pairs a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor on the rear axle for a combined 253kW and 542Nm.
In Crown guise, that means agile and quick AWD grip and performance, but a rear-mounted electric motor would also tie in with the Prado’s 4WD demands, too.
That’s also more power, and more torque, than is currently on offer in the Prado, which is powered by a 2.8-litre turbo diesel generating 150kW and 500Nm.
“Hybrid MAX is Toyota’s all-new performance hybrid,” the brand said when launching the Crown. “It pairs front and rear electric motors with a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine and direct shift six-speed automatic transmission.
“Hybrid MAX produces powerful torque at low RPM for sporty, exhilarating driving.”
According to the reports, the model could launch in America as early as the end of this year, but is more widely expected to debut in 2024.
The move would presumably be supported by Toyota in Australia, who told CarsGuide last year that electrification is coming to the Prado, and sooner rather than later.
“Toyota has made an aspirational plan where we want to have some sort of electrification across all our models in Australia by 2030 – except for the GR performance models,” Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said.
“It makes sense that the LandCruiser, the Prado, the HiLux and other commercial vehicles are going to have to adopt some sort of electrification as we get closer to that point. And when we say by 2030, I don’t want people to interpret that as 2029 and 2030. On the journey to 2030 we’ll start making those arrangements.
“Acceleration of electrification right now is clear in this market – we’re seeing it. And as an agile company we need to be adaptable to those requirements.”
Keyword: Prado power shock: All-new Toyota LandCruiser Prado to adopt four-cylinder Hybrid Max powertrain from the Crown SUV - reports