THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO - AWESOME!
In the world of iconic rugged vehicles, the Toyota Land Cruiser is an institution, a beacon of reliability and endurance and in the long history of the nameplate, Land Cruisers have helped build countries and infrastructure around the globe. The story begins in the early 1950s when Japan was being rebuilt, Toyota was commissioned by the U.S. Military to build a vehicle similar to the Willys Jeep. The resulting Toyota "Jeep" BJ, and it was just as capable as the Willys version. This special order led the automaker to create its own off-road vehicles - and the Land Cruiser legend was born. The Land Cruiser FJ25 was the flagship of the FJ20 Series and it arrived in 1955, it was a tad more sophisticated than the BJ but still built tough. The rugged and roomy roamer was a hit that signalled a great future for the nameplate. In 1960 the 40 Series arrived and it was the Japanese equivalent of the British Land Rovers. It featured a more powerful engine, better suspension, and an overall design that screamed "Take me anywhere." This is the model that built the world and it stayed in production for more than 20 years. The range expanded to include the bigger and better-appointed 60 Series in the 80s and as time passed the trend continued and the 80, 100, 200 and 300 Series models were introduced. The 80 Series was where Toyota went all-in on modernising the Land Cruiser; it had coil spring suspension for improved ride quality, full-time four-wheel drive, and more powerful engines that allowed it to tackle the toughest terrains while keeping its occupants in the lap of luxury. The 100 Series was introduced as the luxury version and it was made better with a fantastic V8 engine and an array of electronic aids. The 200 Series and 300 Series expanded on this, with loads of tech and spec packed in while being capable of conquering any terrain in unmatched comfort and luxury. It makes sense that when a new model of this iconic 4x4 is introduced, it would have to be something very special - and it is.
The all-new Land Cruiser Prado is abreast of a thing, and with that modern retro styling, it’s set to be a winner in the market. The new purposeful design draws on Land Cruiser’s heritage styling, and the result is a new 300 Series that just looks so damn good. It’s a body-on-frame build using Toyota’s New Global Architecture GA-F platform which has significantly increased rigidity, excellent response and improved ride and handling both on and off-road. Under that large bonnet is a re-engineered 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine and it’s been mated to a new 8-speed direct-shift automatic transmission and features permanent all-wheel drive. It’s a 4-cylinder lump, but it’s still rated at an impressive 150 kW with a typically high diesel torque figure of 500 Nm - the latter being available from as low down as 1,600 RPM which means off-road obstacles will be conquered with ease. Chief Engineer Keita Moritsu explains: “We have changed our perception and believe that this Land Cruiser model should be offered as a practical and affordable off-roader. We resolved that going back to our roots would be core to the Land Cruiser brand going forward.” “This is not simply a homage,” says Chief Designer Yoshito Watanabe. “It interprets these elements in a modern design that evokes the essence of Land Cruiser.” There’s a lot packed into one of these new behemoths, but that whole Toyota reliability thing along with all the new tech and spec, and especially the coolest looks bodes well for this new giant SUV, it simply cannot do badly in the market. As of launch, there are 4 models available, starting with the Prado 2.8GD TX at R1,296,300, the Prado 2.8GD VX-R at R1,448,900, the Prado 2.8GD 1st Edition at R1,462,400 and the Prado 2.8GD 1st Edition Bi-Tone at R1,472,600. All of these Land Cruiser Prado models come standard with a 9-Service / 90,000 km service plan and a 3-year / 100,000km warranty and extensions will be available. This is one new $X I’d love to get in front of my camera.
Take a look at the YouTube video from Mat Watson who also offers up car reviews over and above all the drag racing performance stuff. Here's the in-depth Carwow look at the recently-released Toyota Land Cruiser: New Toyota Land Cruiser ULTIMATE review! | carwow
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