Toyota plans to expand its Land Cruiser lineup and to treat the storied model as a brand in its own right, thanks to the addition of two new electric models that will soon go on sale. Hinted at previously by a pair of concept vehicles, the Japanese company is planning a small model for young customers, and a larger one for those with a taste for luxury. Previewed by the Land Cruiser SE in 2023, the EV is expected to be larger and more focused on comfort than the J250 series Land Cruiser (Prado) that’s coming to North America. It will also use advanced technologies, like Toyota’s prismatic cells, which promise to be cheaper to produce, and to be more energy dense than existing battery technology.
The model’s combination of tech and luxury
could make it an ideal product to unveil on the 75th anniversary of the Land
Cruiser nameplate in 2026, reports Autocar.Two years later, an even
higher-performance battery may be introduced, which could push ranges up to 1,000 km per charge. Although it won’t be quite as off-road-focused as
the J250 Land Cruiser Prado, Toyota will ensure that the Land Cruiser SE
delivers “highly responsible handling” when it’s on a trail. The large amounts
of torque from the electric motors should make it capable of clambering up any
hills or across ditches it comes upon.
Meanwhile, no timeline has been proposed
for the smaller model, though it was previewed in 2021 by the Compact Cruiser
EV concept. It is expected to be similar in size to the bZ4X, but will be more
focused on style and utility. What this means is that it could compete with the
likes of the upcoming baby Land Rover Defender and Mercedes’ little G-Class,
two EVs that will combine compact proportions with rugged looks. Like the bZ4X,
it is expected to be based on the E-TNGA architecture. Currently, the platform
is able to deliver up to 214 hp and has a 71.4 kWh battery pack
that can get a vehicle up to 417 km per charge. Whether the little
Land Cruiser’s boxy proportions will affect its range remains to be seen.
Previous reports from Japan have indicated
that, in addition to a battery electric variant, there are also potential plans
for internal combustion and hybrid versions of the SUV in development. In any
case, the model’s primary goal is to make the expanding Land Cruiser lineup
more affordable, and “within reach of more people around the world,” according
to the automaker’s chief branding officer.
