Global Courant
The robust, go-anywhere Toyota Land Cruiser returns to the US market after a short hiatus. The brand confirmed the return of the legendary nameplate in posted a short video on her social media channelsbut the next Land Cruiser sold here may be smaller than the last.
The five-second preview video, embedded below, highlights some of the decals the off-roader has worn throughout its decades-long history. Seasoned enthusiasts will instantly recognize the 20 Series, 40 Series and 60 Series models, as well as other variants of the Land Cruiser. Toyota’s caption couldn’t be clearer: “Did you really think we’d be gone for a long time? The legend returns.”
The trail of official information ends there – it’s better than nothing and it’s enough to whet our appetite. However, an unverified report claims that the next Land Cruiser we’ll see in showrooms won’t be the new 300 series model to be unveiled in 2021 and sold in several global markets, including the Middle East. If that’s what you want to put in your driveway, the Lexus LX 600 is your only option. It doesn’t sound like the 70 Series Land Cruiser will be allowed to travel here either. Instead, we’re reportedly getting a market-specific version of the next-generation Land Cruiser Prado. It hasn’t been revealed yet, but it should be closely related to the new 2024 Lexus GX (below) under the sheet metal.
We expect a body-on-frame construction, up to three rows of seats and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain built around a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. This could be the same system offered in the new Tacoma, but keep in mind that this is pure speculation. Visual changes will differentiate the GX and the Land Cruiser, and it’s safe to assume the Toyota will offer a less luxurious interior than the Lexus.
Several details remain shrouded in secrecy. Will the model carry the Land Cruiser nameplate or will it launch as the Land Cruiser Prado? Its predecessors have all been given the “Prado” suffix, but it could become a moot point if there isn’t a regular Land Cruiser to distinguish it from.
Another interesting question (which Toyota’s product planners have probably already answered) is what happens to the 4Runner. The current fifth-generation model went on sale for the 2010 model year, so it’s due for an update, and it’s almost exactly as long, wide and high as the current fourth-generation Land Cruiser Prado. Can two off-road-focused body-on-frame SUVs of similar size coexist in the Toyota range? It is worth noting that the 4Runner has become primarily a North American product while the Land Cruiser Prado is a global market model.
Oddly enough, our spies haven’t seen another 4Runner test yet; the now-revealed Tacoma made numerous appearances in spy photos before its debut. Of course, that doesn’t mean a sixth-generation model isn’t just around the corner. Toyota will be covering these points and more in the coming months. While no official timeline for the Land Cruiser’s return is available, the aforementioned report claims we’ll see it in 2024.
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