Hot on the heels of the Toyota Land Cruiser making a triumphant return to the United States, details about the new model have just been announced for Europe and select international markets. It will be sold in some countries as the Land Cruiser Prado, including Australia. New Land Cruiser models sold in Europe are very similar to those set to be offered stateside. With this in mind, the capable off-roader and 4×4 follows in the footsteps of the larger Land Cruiser 300 and is based on Toyota’s GA-F platform. Toyota notes that a new frame is 50% more rigid than the frame of the previous-generation model and that this, in conjunction with the new platform, results in better off-road performance as well as improved on-road driving.
A plethora of other features add to the
appeal of the new Land Cruiser. For example, it comes with electric power
steering that promises to reduce kickback on rough surfaces while also
providing a smoother and more direct feel. This system has also allowed Toyota
to implement Land Tracing Assist into the Safety Sense active safety and driver
assistance package.
While Toyota has not yet announced
powertrain details for each specific market where the new Land Cruiser will be
sold, it has said that it will launch with a 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine in
Western Europe. This engine produces 201 hp and is paired to an eight-speed
Direct Shift automatic transmission. While 201 horses may not seem like much
for a vehicle of this size, Toyota has confirmed the new Land Cruiser can tow
up to 3,500 kg. It has also revealed that in early 2025 an
electrified powertrain combining a diesel engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid
system will join the range. Toyota has also said the new Land Cruiser gains a
disconnecting front anti-roll bar that is a Toyota first and should boost its
off-road credentials even higher. Various upgrades have also been made to the
Multi-Terrain Monitor and Multi-Terrain Select systems.
Visually, two distinct versions of the
Land Cruiser will be sold with different front fascias. As in the U.S., one
will have simpler round headlights while the other will have more premium
headlights that run horizontally. Unlike in the U.S., however, the model with
the round LED headlights will not be the entry-level model and instead sold
exclusively as a ‘First Edition’ variant. Just 3,000 examples of the Land
Cruiser First Edition will be produced with pre-sales to commence in October.
European and international prices have not
yet been confirmed.
