Toyota LandCruiser: The Original 4WD Returns

Motoring Channel Staff - 9/November/2007

Alice Springs, Australia — Toyota has launched its new LandCruiser 200 range in Australia, priced between $69,990 and $104,990. There are three grades - GXL, VX and Sahara - and two engine choices, one diesel V8 and the other petrol V8.

The new Toyota LandCruiser made its worldwide debut at the Australian International Motor Show in October 2007, and has seating for up to eight passengers and can be optioned with up to 10 airbags. The Australian pricing is as follows:

Toyota Australia's sales and marketing chief, David Buttner, talked about the LandCruiser's 50 year evolution from a basic 4WD utility vehicle into an modern SUV. 

"Everything Toyota has learnt in half a century of building four-wheel drives has gone into the design, development and manufacturing of the new LandCruiser 200," Mr Buttner said.

"It has retained the capability of the original LandCruiser, and added the comfort and convenience of a luxury sedan. 

"New LandCruiser is more than a step forward; it's a giant leap ahead in technology, performance, specification and value," insisted Mr Buttner.

One of the key technology upgrades of the new Toyota LandCruiser 200 series is the locally-developed KDSS suspension system. Developed by a Western Australian company called Kinetic, the KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) is a hydraulic system that controls the front and rear stabiliser bars to provide excellent on-road stability. 

It is claimed to improve off-road performance through a larger suspension stroke achieved by effectively disabling the stabiliser bars.

KDSS is standard equipment on all models except the entry-level GXL turbo-diesel model, where it is a $2,500 option.

Towing capacity is 3500kg with a braked trailer (750kg with unbraked trailer), now that the towbar is now has been integrated into the chassis, and the boot has 700 litres of space up to the 2nd row. 

The new Toyota LandCruiser range weighs between 2555kg and 2720 kilograms.

The entire LandCruiser range is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and Torsen limited-slip centre differential built into the transfer unit of the full-time all-wheel-drive system. This allows the SUV to split power between the front and rear wheels.

Another off-road innovation is the newly adopted multi-terrain anti-skid braking system that provides improved braking performance even on dirt roads, gravel and sand.

Some of the other driving aids include the world's first 'crawl control' system, which is was developed for driving on surfaces such as rocks, sand or steep hills. It automatically controls the engine and brakes to maintain very low speeds with minimal spinning or locking of the wheels.

Ideal for harsh terrain, it allows for precise speed adjustments between about 1km/h and 5 km/h claims Toyota, and that three speed settings can be selected by the simple turn of a dial. Toyota says this allows the driver to have a greater focus on steering and is also effective at extracting the vehicle if it becomes stuck.

At present, all petrol models have Crawl Control instead of Downhill Assist Control.

Toyota predicts that the biggest-seller in the range will be the 195kW, 650Nm twin turbo-diesel GXL LandCruiser ($79,990). It uses 10.3 litres of fuel per 100km on the combined city/highway cycle, and "should prompt company and government fleets to reassess bans on buying V8 engines" according to the Toyota press release. 

Toyota's head of sales and marketing, David Buttner, said "These new [diesel] engines demolish the argument that having a V8 engine is the same as having a gas guzzler. Modern engine technology has advanced in leaps and bounds - certainly at Toyota."

The 4.7-litre petrol engine isn't nearly as frugal as the diesel. Though it has slightly more power, 202kW (but significantly less torque), the petrol engine returns a combined fuel economy figure of 14.5L/100km and emits far more carbon dioxide than the diesel model. Both V8 engine's vitals are as follows:

4.5-litre V8 BiTurbo Diesel
Power: 195kW @ 3400rpm
Torque: 650Nm @ 1600-2600rpm
Fuel Use: 10.3L/100km
C02: 273g/km
Gearbox: 6-speed auto

4.7-litre V8 Petrol
Power: 202kW @ 5400rpm
Torque: 410Nm @ 3400rpm
Fuel Use: 14.5L/100km
C02: 341g/km
Gearbox: 5-speed auto

Powered by both petrol and diesel V8 motors, the Toyota refers to the new model as a completely redesigned vehicle, despite what appears to be only minor changes to the cars exterior design.

Both engines are mated to automatic transmissions with sequential shifts. Mr Buttner said the new LandCruiser was a giant leap ahead in technology, performance, specification and value: "More than ever before, it will be the vehicle against which other 4WDs are judged," Mr Buttner said.

"It has helped us forge a strong connection with Australia. As a result, Australia has also played a significant part in developing the latest generation of what is rightly regarded as the king off the road. New LandCruiser has been tested and evaluated here for several years over more than 200,000 kilometres," added Mr Buttner.

With a modern new design somewhat similar to the new Lexus LX570 luxury SUV, the new LandCruiser has grown 60mm longer, 30mm wider and the roofline is 15mm higher all of which improve interior space.

Toyota also mentions that the platform upon which LandCruiser is based has been completely redesigned and retains a full-frame structure for true off-roading. Furthermore, the frame has been strengthened to increase safety, reduce noise and vibration and enhance interior comfort.

The suspension has become more advanced but whether this benefits its off-road capabilities is not yet known. The front end employs a high-mount double-wishbone system with a hollow stabiliser bar and coil springs, replacing the torsion-bar set-up of the previous model.

The rear suspension sees the return of the four-link (with lateral rod), coil-spring system. According to Toyota, it has been further refined and now delivers a longer suspension stroke for improved performance and better handling and ride comfort as well.

For family buyers there's the added safety advances of the stronger body structure, vehicle stability control, and up to 10 airbags including front, side and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, side airbags for the outboard second-row seats and curtain shield airbags for all three rows. The 8-seater 4WD also offers gets Smart Entry and Smart Start, and can be optioned with Bluetooth mobile-phone connection, satellite navigation and steering wheel controls.

Standard features across the range include automatic transmissions, climate-controlled air conditioning with pollen filter, dual front SRS airbags, front side airbags, full-length three-row side curtain airbags, multi-terrain ABS (with EBD and brake assist), vehicle stability control, active traction control, and hill-start assist control. Things like smart entry and smart start (keep the keys in your pocket) improve ease of use, and a sub fuel tank (except for petrol GXL models) enhances the LandCruiser's touring range.

The mid-level Toyota LandCruiser model, designated the VX grade, gets additional features starting with driver and front passenger knee airbags, second-row seat side airbags, privacy glass, front foglamps, matte metallic-look side steps, remote power windows and moonroof, door courtesy lamps, a small overhead console, and a multi-information display (trip computer). 

The VX models upgrade you with leather seat trim, power-adjustable front seats, 40:20:40 split-fold second-row seat (in lieu of 60:40 split), an alarm system and woodgrain interior dashboard trim.

Finally the top-of-the-range Sahara adds things like a reversing camera, satellite DVD navigation with 6-stack CD/DVD/MP3 changer and 9-speaker stereo. It's got a quad zone climate-controlled air conditioning system, cool box, a headlamp cleaning system, wood and leather gear shift lever and steering wheel with audio controls and an electro-chromatic interior mirror. With this many features, the Lexus LX570 is going to have to be very well equipped to stand out.

In 2008, the Toyota LandCruiser will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Australia - marking the arrival of the first two-door LandCruiser FJ25s that worked on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme in 1958.

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