© Toyota Motor Europe
While addressing the needs of tomorrow's motorists today through its drive towards sustainable mobility and the goal of the ultimate Eco Car, Toyota also continues to focus on customer groups who require vehicles with highly specific capabilities.
Having attracted over 5 million customers in 176 different countries since its launch, the Land Cruiser is one such vehicle. It has become an icon in the 4WD market, its name synonymous with Toyota's worldwide brand values of outstanding quality, durability and reliability.
Backed by almost 60 years of off-road heritage, Land Cruiser drivers accept no compromise. They expect their vehicles to perform perfectly in even the harshest conditions, offering superior driving performance and refinement both while serving as everyday transport and whilst operating in the very toughest and most demanding working environments around the world.
Building on this peerless pedigree, and key to the all-new Land Cruiser's enhanced off-road capability, is the unique level of guidance and technical support it offers drivers. Several new, user friendly functions not only make tricky sections passable in terrain where even the most skillful drivers might otherwise struggle, but also assist beginners with their driving technique.
Helping even unskilled drivers maximize the vehicle's off-road performance, the unprecedented sophistication of these control and guidance refinements makes the all-new Land Cruiser one of the most technically advanced, yet safe, pleasurable and easy to use off-road vehicles in the world.
Toyota also acknowledges that style, comfort and on-road performance are equally important to many 4WD customers. Hence, the all-new Land Cruiser combines a full off-road capability with superior on-road driving pleasure and even higher standards of quality and comfort. No other 4WD can offer this unique combination of off-road performance and on-road dynamics.
Both three and five door versions of the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser are available with a choice of two engines: a 205 kW/279 PS 4.0 liter Dual VVT-i V6 petrol engine or a 127 kW/173 PS 3.0 liter four-cylinder turbodiesel. The CO2 emissions of both engines have been reduced by 12%, and the turbodiesel returns a best in class fuel consumption of 8.1 L/100 km, and CO2 emissions of 214 g/km in the combined cycle.
*Land Cruiser Prado outside Europe
The new generation (J150) Land Cruiser Prado went on sale in Japan yesterday. Produced by Toyota’s commercial truck subsidiary Hino Motors in Hamura, Japan, the new Prado is a major update of the old model, rather than being “All-New”, standard practice for most late-generation SUVs. Rather than invest in a new frame and body Toyota and other manufacturers have focused on improving the existing structure—reducing body flex, improving stiffness and strength etc.. Wider wheel arches and new suspension allow a wider track to improve stability and handling without widening the frame and body, saving on both engineering and tooling costs. Powertrain updates are also minor—4-cylinder engines are carried over from the J120, a 2.7 L gasoline engine shared with the Tacoma and Hilux for the Japanese domestic market and a 3.0 L turbodiesel upgraded in 2006 for export markets; the 4.0 L V6 finally receives the Dual VVT system and roller rocker arms common to the smaller GR-series engines, together with a higher compression ratio (now 10.4:1 instead of 10:1) they boost power by 35 hp for the European market and reduce fuel consumption and pollution. The interior benefits most from this makeover, with new 5- and 7-seat layouts with added flexibility, more legroom and a power-folding third row in 7-seat models replacing the previous 5- and 8-seat versions.