Production of the outgoing
Toyota Land Cruiser kicked off in 2007, which makes the J200 one of the oldest
SUVs in the market. It was revised several times, though, but a major revamp is
just around the corner, according to BestCarWeb. The Japanese publication
reports that the new generation Land Cruiser, which will be reborn as the 300
series, will be unveiled in August, and will transition to the latest
body-on-frame version of the firm’s Toyota New Global Architecture known as
TNGA-CV.
Interestingly, the report says
that Toyota plans to offer the big Land Cruiser with a new hybrid engine
possibly based on the one used in the LS 500h, producing less power at 299 PS and 356 Nm of torque. The electrified powertrain,
believed to be combined with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and
permanent four-wheel drive system, should replace the outgoing 4.6-liter V8,
and might be joined by other engines.
While there’s no mention for a
replacement to the 4.5-liter V8 diesel available on the current Land Cruiser
200 in some markets, that doesn’t
necessarily mean Toyota won’t offer one on the new 300 series.
Shifting to the new
architecture will help the new-gen Land Cruiser grow in size, but it should be
lighter than its predecessor. A slightly longer wheelbase would free up more
space for occupants sitting on the second- and third-row. The base SUV could arrive
with seating for five in some markets, while the upper specs would have space
for eight. The rest of the interior is thought to be massively updated, and a
new infotainment system could be part of the revamp. Toyota will pay extra care
to the safety assist features, with the upcoming Land Cruiser getting the
standard Safety Sense pack.
