(August 5, 2021) TOKYO — Launched in August 1951, the Land Cruiser was originally known as the "Toyota BJ," a four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with a powerful engine. In the 70 years since, it has sought to deliver safety and security to diverse customers and other people involved with the vehicle. All over the world, the Land Cruiser has supported lives, livelihoods, and more fulfilling lifestyles, and promised to take people anywhere and everywhere, and come back alive and safe.
            
Now, the Land Cruiser's essence of "reliability, durability, and off-road performance" has further evolved, based on the actual usage situations of its global customers. A cumulative total of approximately 10.6 million units ― and more than 300,000 units a year ― are being cherished by customers in 170 countries and regions all over the world.

The new Land Cruiser 300 Series introduced this week is a complete redesign of the outgoing 200 Series, which launched in 2007. Its development objectives are outlined below

    •    Inheriting and evolving the Land Cruiser's essence of "reliability, durability, and off-road performance"

    •    Creating a riding experience that enables the driver to drive with ease on any type of road around the world without tiring easily

With these objectives in mind, Toyota retained the same frame structure, and allied it with the new GA-F platform, which is based on the TNGA philosophy. The vehicle's identity has also been reshaped by merging cutting-edge technologies with technologies accumulated over many years.

The new Land Cruiser's twin development themes of "inheritance and evolution" and "easy to drive and difficult to tire" are reflected in every aspect of the vehicle. An overview is provided below.

The updated version rides on a new GA-F platform for ladder frame trucks that is expected to also underpin the next-generation Lexus LX, when it debuts as early as next year. A related, all-new platform is being used on the next-generation Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.

The Land Cruiser's new architecture helps shed 440 pounds of body weight and is 20 percent more rigid. Toyota says the new platform and other technologies offer a slew of safety and performance improvements for a smoother ride on city streets and more ability to handle off-road challenges.

Under the hood, the new SUV drops the long-running V-8 powerplants for two V-6 options — a 3.5-liter V-6 twin-turbo gasoline engine and a 3.3-liter V-6 twin-turbo diesel. The gasoline power plant achieves about 415 hp, while the diesel delivers around 309 hp. Both are mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission.



Toyota said the downsized turbocharged engines achieve better performance and fuel economy than the outgoing V-8.

In the Japan-specification Land Cruiser, for example, fuel economy over the previous generation was improved approximately 18 percent for the gasoline engine grades and about 45 percent for the diesel engine offerings.
Toyota’s figures were drawn from the European standard -- the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, which is less stringent than the U.S. standard set by the European Union.

 In line with its updated platform, the new Land Cruiser features a newly developed high-mount double-wishbone front and trailing-link rigid-axle rear suspension system. The position of the rear shock absorbers has been optimized for improved ride comfort and steering stability.

Modifying the location of the suspension arms has resulted in a stable body posture even when braking, while also improving wheel articulation―the ability of its tires to stay on the ground. These have led to superior off-road performance.

The vehicle uses a new Linear Solenoid Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system, which controls shock absorbers' damping force independently for each wheel in response to road conditions and driver operation, for improved steering stability and ride comfort. (Equipped as standard on the ZX and GR Sport grades)
    
The new Land Cruiser combines a hydraulic power steering system capable of withstanding use in harsh environments with an electric steering actuator. This not only enables the addition of steering support functions such as Lane Tracing Assist, but also delivers outstanding maneuverability at low speeds, reduced kickback while driving off-road, and a crisper steering feel. (Equipped as standard on the ZX, GR Sport, and VX grades)