THE NEW TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 250 IS PREMIERED, AND IT'S A RETRO-STYLED BEAUTY.
The iconic nameplate is now 72 years old, and its legend started almost immediately after release when it became the first vehicle to climb to the 6th station of Mount Fuji. Over the years the go-anywhere SUV has evolved and improved, and to date has amassed an impressive 11.3 million units in roughly 170 countries and regions around the world. It makes sense then that a new version has to live up to that storied past, and by all accounts, it will. The Land Cruiser range has always been divided into three different series, the station wagon which usually showcases the latest technologies to evolve into the flagship model 300 Series, the 70 Series which is a heavy-duty model with durability and proven off-road performance, and the Light Duty model with better handling and comfort on an off-road base in the form of the Prado. Carrying on the amazing lineage, Toyota just revealed the new 250-Series Land Cruiser, and it uses the same GA-F platform as the 300 Series which serves to dramatically improve basic off-road performance, and it will be available with a choice of powertrains to suit customers’ needs. The best part is the styling, it seems Toyota has decided to give the iconic car more of a retro styling, and we have to say that it just works. It has to be among the best-looking SUVs we’ve seen in this class and we’re sure that sales will come based on its looks alone. When the brand re-invented the FJ Cruiser and gave it a retro look, it did wonders for sales and even here in SA we started to see them all over the place, even at aftermarket tuning shops getting supercharger conversions and lift kits.
There looks to be a total of five powerplants that will be made available for the new Toyota Land Cruiser range, and the biggest and most powerful looks like it will be limited to the North American and Chinese markets, but we know that Toyota is one of the only automakers that listen to what customers want, so the powertrain may eventually be seen in other markets. This top engine option in the Land Cruiser 250 is the petrol-fed T24A-FTS, a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder setup that’s rated at 243 kW with a high 630 Nm of torque. This engine replaced the much-loved V6 option, and more than a few Cruiser fans were upset by the drop in capacity and cylinders, but this new motor looks to be better in every way. This will be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with various drive modes that will optimise the drive for differing terrains and driving conditions through the Multi-Terrain Monitor and Multi-Terrain Select systems, which are new to the Land Cruiser. Also new is an electric power steering that reduces loss of steering control when driving off-road and provides a sharper steering feel, improves manoeuvrability at low speeds, and includes Lane Tracing Assist. It will also be the first Toyota to use the Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM), a switch-operated function that allows the front stabilizer state to be changed to improve driving performance, ride comfort and handling stability. While this was a reveal of a prototype of the upcoming model, we’re sure it will have these exact looks and promised features. We’re not sure when it will go on sale, or even if it will be seen on SA shores, but we have high hopes because the Land Cruisers have a dedicated following here, evident if you ever visit any of the amazing off-road venues in SA where vehicles like these like to go and play.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the crew at Driving Sports TV as they take a close look at the all-new Toyota LAnd Cruiser in a new and fascinating retro-style that should see an instant worldwide demand for the latest incarnation of this long-running and iconic nameplate: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Look - The Legend is Back! | Driving Sports TV
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