Toyota just revealed the all-new Land Cruiser to the world today. The new J300 series is the latest in the nameplate that spans 70 years. It brings with it a new design, new platform, and a new engine that’s more than ready to continue where the previous iteration left off.
The boxy design is functional more than anything. Toyota said that the light positions and bumper shapes are made so that they won’t be damaged during off-road driving. This ethos continues inside with the rectangular head unit that has off-road functions to guide you on adventures. It’s complemented by buttons and switches that are placed in intuitive positions so you can operate them easier.
Underneath this shape is an improved body based on the TNGA platform, called the GA-F. This body is 200kg lighter than the previous model but is more rigid, has a lower center of gravity, better weight distribution and improved suspension structure. It was tested not only by Toyota’s drivers but previous drivers who participated in Dakar Rallies, too.
Key improvements include the adoption of Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS), Multi-Terrain Monitor and Multi Terrain Select which automatically chooses the best driving mode based on detected road surface.
The new Land Cruiser J300 comes with a new twin-turbo V6 engine with a displacement of 3.5L for the gasoline and 3.3L for the diesel. Toyota claims these have class-leading performance that surpass those of conventional V8 engines. The gas engine has 409hp and 650Nm of torque, while the diesel has 304hp and a whopping 700Nm. This V6 diesel has 76hp and 85Nm more power and torque than the V8 found in the current Land Cruiser.
Both engine options will be paired with a new 10-speed automatic. Together with the new engine and lighter body weight, Toyota is aiming for a 10 percent reduction in CO2 emissions annually, compared to the previous model.
Toyota Safety Sense is also present in the new Land Cruiser with newly added functions. The first is an enhancement to the pre-collision system that detects pedestrians day and night, and cyclists during daytime. It also has an emergency steering and crash avoidance function that’s triggered when the driver makes a sudden maneuver to avoid collision. There’s also a new Parking Support Brake that recognizes obstacles around the car, approaching vehicles when backing, or pedestrians.
Toyota is set to launch the new Land Cruiser worldwide in a few weeks but there’s no word yet when it will arrive in the Philippines.