Toyota has unveiled a completely new version of its flagship SUV, the Land Cruiser, in the Middle East.
Named the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, the new model is the first completely new iteration of Toyota’s iconic go-anywhere vehicle since the introduction of the Series 200 in 2007. The 300 features a different platform called GA-F, new V6 engines, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and redesigned suspension.
The appearance is typical of the Land Cruiser, meaning the car is imposing and rugged, clearly designed with off-road approach and departure angles in mind. The cabin takes on a more sophisticated look, with a wide-screen infotainment system incorporating smartphone integration and boasting claims of more appealing plastics and finishes.
The new vehicle marks the first time Toyota’s TNGA platform, the modular architecture that underpins most of the company’s models these days, has been used to support a body-on-frame car. The two new six-cylinder engines, both turbocharged, are 3.5-liter gasoline and 3.3-liter diesel. Both are claimed to offer better driving ease and efficiency than a conventional V8.
Toyota has not released performance or efficiency figures, but the company states that when combined with the new 10-speed automatic gearbox, the engines deliver around a 10% improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions compared to the outgoing Land Cruiser. Weight-saving measures also contribute to this, as the new model is around 200 kg lighter than its predecessor.
The Land Cruiser 300 is designed to be capable enough off-road to justify its badge, while offering an easier driving experience on both rough terrain and smooth paved roads. It features what Toyota calls the ‘world’s first electronic kinetic dynamic suspension system,’ likely a development of previous car technology but now using processing power to help the system adapt more quickly to changing surfaces.
A camera-based terrain monitoring system will allow occupants to see the road conditions surrounding the vehicle, while the vehicle’s technology will assess the road surface quality and adjust the car’s operating mode accordingly.
The Land Cruiser 300 will go on sale later this summer, but the choice of the debut location, Dubai, is not a coincidence. Toyota has no plans to introduce it here, particularly since the company recently presented the more fuel-efficient Highlander hybrid as the flagship model of its SUV lineup in the Americas.
