Toyota Launches Fully Redesigned 'Land Cruiser' in Japan

In the world of 4WD, few had the chance to be ranked at the world best vehicle… And the Land Cruiser is without a doubt one of them! Since 1954 Toyota propose the ultimate driving machine when it comes to off-road vehicles and this morning Watanabe-San, president of Toyota, proudly announced the arrival of a new generation of Land Cruiser, which will surely be once again the king of the jungle.

In a pure aesthetic point of view this new generation is not so different from the old ones, but it is under the "metallic" skin that most of the new features are hiding, like for example a new chassis, new suspensions, a new 4.7l V8 engine with VVT-I, as well as a new computer assisted 4WD technology…

A new best that we will be happy to test drive for you soon in order to check what this car can really do !

Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today the launch in Japan of the completely redesigned "Land Cruiser" full-size, top-of-the-line SUV.

The new Land Cruiser, designed under the theme "The King of Four-Wheel Drives", features a new platform and suspension, 4.7-liter V8 engine with VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) and new technologies that enhance all-around driving performance. As a result, the Land Cruiser's traditional durability, reliability, off-road performance and other basic functions have been raised to a new level.

In addition, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side and curtain shield airbags and a newly developed Active Headrest—all standard—combine with an optional advanced Pre-crash Safety System to achieve safety performance at the highest levels in its class
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SevorbeupstryIsBack - 9/18/2007 3:28:42 AM

+4 Boost

So what's new?

Owh, it looks horrid too.

Bill - 9/18/2007 6:47:01 AM

+1 Boost

These Toyota-Lexus fanboys are so full of it with their "reliability" BS.

EnnNorak - 9/18/2007 9:35:07 AM

+2 Boost

Nothing horrid-looking about it at all Sevor. My wife thinks the FJ Cruiser (my favorite) looks horrid so the new Land Cruiser is my only hope of getting a half-decent SUV. Toyota should bring a diesel version to North America ASAP.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 9/18/2007 10:38:35 AM

+5 Boost

"Nothing new really. It's just another true SUV that Range Rover wishes it could become one day."

Like I said before: be quiet

Kostin - 9/18/2007 5:44:32 AM

+3 Boost

Awfull design.It looks like an '89 model or like an Chinese '07 model.

EnnNorak - 9/18/2007 9:43:07 AM

+1 Boost

Kostin, you and XeroKOOL are too wet behind the ears to remember just what a great improvement this is over the original Land Cruiser. The most important improvements are in the drivetrain including the use of a genuine Torsen differential. I live in a cold climate and insist on a superior AWD or 4WD system. I will settle for RWD with LSD as a tradeoff for comfort in a sedan like the 2008 CTS.

Kostin - 9/18/2007 12:26:01 PM

+4 Boost

Who argued something about technological improvements? Everybody knows the Land Cruiser is a 4x4 legend.My comment was about it's awfull,cheap design...

S4cabriofoxone - 9/19/2007 12:25:30 AM

+2 Boost

"Kostin, you and XeroKOOL are too wet behind the ears to remember just what a great improvement this is over the original Land Cruiser. The most important improvements are in the drivetrain including the use of a genuine Torsen differential."

Yes, who cares? This car still looks like a pair of old shoes.

XeroK00L is a Toyota fanboy, BTW, and would defend this car to the death.

r15mohd - 9/18/2007 8:54:37 AM

+3 Boost

Bill -- i dont think there is anything wrong with reliability being a key factor in a vehicle purchase...

so why reiterate it as BS? is it because thats what Toyota, Honda, even MB of the old has preached to its consumers? safety and reliability (and nowadays fuel economy) are the major concerns when purchasing a vehicle. it may not be yours, but these companies dont focus on a specific persons liking, they adhere to the majority.

like the article states...since the 50's the Land Cruiser has been one of the best off-road vehicles, and congrats for Toyota on staying ahead in the game.

EnnNorak - 9/18/2007 9:45:23 AM

+5 Boost

My priorities are comfort, reliability, durability and value (bang for the buck).

BentleyGT - 9/18/2007 11:31:36 AM

0 Boost

This is one ugly monster, does it bite?

S4cabriofoxone - 9/19/2007 12:26:42 AM

+2 Boost

I'm not jealous, I would just rather drive a Yukon. Is there anything wrong with somebody else having a different opinion? Toyota vehicles are not inherently superior.

theoptimisticpessimist - 9/18/2007 12:45:51 PM

-1 Boost

They ruined it.

jwink24 - 9/18/2007 1:15:27 PM

+3 Boost

How so? What is so ugly, can you give examples, I can understand that front mirror, but honestly what makes it horrible?

Designer1 - 9/18/2007 1:03:38 PM

+4 Boost

The interior is just gorgeous, although the exterior isn't much, but who cares after all this is one of the best 4x4 in the world and that would be the reason to buy it. For example, the Hummer is just ugly in and out, but people buy it because of its capability. Yes maybe 1% of their buyers take it to dirt say couple of times in their life, but still, its all about the capability of the vehicle.

paul3230 - 9/18/2007 1:55:29 PM

+1 Boost

Just what we need..another gas hog..

Rupert - 9/18/2007 2:12:22 PM

+2 Boost

A "new" 4.7 litre petrol.
hmmmm.
It's about as old as I am.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 9/18/2007 5:48:32 PM

0 Boost

Yeah, and it EATS fuel like no other. My uncle has the last gen Landcruiser 100 (or amazon for you british) with the V8 engine and he can't get it under 20 litre per 100 km...

Rupert - 9/18/2007 6:32:30 PM

0 Boost

Xero, that 4.7 in the LC Amazon drinks fuel like you wouldn't believe.
I know many people who have one, they say no better than 14 mpg round town and 20 on the highway. That's imperial btw, so about 10/17 US.

And Xero, I don't care about the US bound one, I care about the Europe bound one which is likely to be having a 4.7 V8 and a lazy 4.0 diesel, neither of which sip fuel, and in fact guzzle it at a rate of knots. The LC is seriously off pace compared to it's rivals like the LR3 - just as slow, twice as thirsty.

It makes the RR supercharged seem like a paragon of fuel economy.
The LC Amazon is actually in the top 20 of "least fuel efficient cars in Britain".

Htay7500 - 9/18/2007 7:13:01 PM

+3 Boost

what about the prado? we have the 4runner but the lex gx is a remodified prado w/ a V8.

S4cabriofoxone - 9/19/2007 12:28:01 AM

+1 Boost

"Compare it to the other REAL SUVs such as the Range Rover and the G-Class and suddenly the LC becomes quite a sipper."

No... not really. They all get pretty terrible mileage. If you count 1mpg as a big difference, so be it.

An LC diesel would make too much sense, after all.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 9/20/2007 2:28:23 AM

0 Boost

Buy a G320 CDI or a Range Rover TDV8.

Htay7500 - 9/18/2007 2:30:41 PM

+3 Boost

I'll have to wait and see this car in real life. I like the current one as well as past LCs and IMO, the best SUV all round.

DaHarder - 9/18/2007 8:27:46 PM

-1 Boost

Just a Bigger/Uglier Highlander...

Oh Landcruiser - How You Have Fallen

XYZZ - 9/19/2007 1:58:50 AM

+3 Boost

if the u.s. version indeed gets the 5.7 v8, mileage will improve.

as used in the tundra, the 5.7 gets better mileage than the 4.7, while being considerably more powerful too.

richard112360 - 9/21/2007 7:23:40 PM

0 Boost

I agree they ruined it!!!! The big shots at Toyota know this too!!!! Notice how there are no pictures of the hideous looking rear end which looks like the rear end of a Soviet era Jeep.