2004 Toyota Land Cruiser

Agent001 submitted on 12/13/2002 Auto Spies Photos Timestamp: 11:14:48 PM

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2004 Toyota Land Cruiser

Announced in Europe, here next year

New Land Cruiser builds on Toyota legend

World debut of new Toyota Land Cruiser
New standards of comfort and driving pleasure
Packed with advanced technology
Clear position in Toyota SUV range
Latest in a 51-year heritage

The Paris Mondial de l’Automobile 2002 marks the world debut of an all-new Toyota Land Cruiser – the benchmark Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) which has become motoring legend around the world.

The new Toyota Land Cruiser embodies all the rugged characteristics and off-road reliability that have made the range famous but adds a new dimension of driving pleasure, perceived quality and comfort. As a result, the new Toyota Land Cruiser can take its place as a worthy successor to the generations which have gone before.

It is equally at home on and off-road to satisfy the new market created by current generation SUV drivers – new, demanding customers who want style, passenger car on-road dynamics and tough, off-road capability. However, the new Toyota Land Cruiser is no ‘soft’ 4x4. It retains the traditional frame chassis and separate body construction for maximum rigidity and strength.

The contemporary styling of the new Toyota Land Cruiser was created in Europe at ED2, Toyota’s advanced design facility in the south of France. It reflects the growing confidence and global creativity now developing at ED2. This is the first time ever that a Land Cruiser exterior has been designed outside Japan.

The new Toyota Land Cruiser is packed with advanced technology designed to deliver world-beating performance in its twin roles – on and off road.

This includes a world-first Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) for ascent of slippery slopes; Downhill Assist Control (DAC) offers reassuring safety when driving on steep downhill tracks; Vehicle Stability Control; and the latest generation of Toyota’s semi-active suspension, TEMS (Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension).

The new Toyota Land Cruiser will be available in both three-door and five-door bodystyles with outstanding comfort features and equipment.

Buyers will have a choice of two advanced engines to match the new Toyota Land Cruiser’s high quality image. The current, powerful 3.0-litre D-4D common rail turbo-diesel is joined by a brand new 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine, developing 183 kW for maximum outright performance.

World beating Toyota SUV range The launch of the new Toyota Land Cruiser gives Toyota an unbeatable line-up in the Sports Utility Vehicle market with vehicles to suit each market sector.

The Toyota RAV4 is clearly aimed at the stylish, urban SUV customer with its trendy looks and compact shape. The new Toyota Land Cruiser is at the heart of the SUV market while the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 – itself revised for the Paris Mondial de l’Automobile – targets the luxury market for those seeking the ultimate in off-road performance.

Sometimes called the King of the off-roaders, the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 blends ultimate off-road capability with luxury and style to create a true ‘go-anywhere’ prestige car. It remains the top of the Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle range.

Fifty-one years of Toyota Land Cruiser Both the new Toyota Land Cruiser and the revised Land Cruiser 100 owe their heritage to 51 years of continuous development. An early Toyota Land Cruiser which is at the Paris Mondial de l’Automobile 2002, the first vehicle in this long and illustrious history, reveals the progress of this legend.

Indeed, it could be argued the history of Toyota Land Cruiser is the history of Toyota itself - for the world beating 4x4 has led the expansion of the company since the 1950s taking it to new continents and new, unexplored markets.

Toyota had experimented with four-wheel drive vehicles in the 1940s but it was not until 1950 that the company’s engineers returned to the project. They had identified the need for a light, all-purpose 4x4 that could operate as both a civilian and military vehicle.

In early 1951, the first vehicle was completed. It was built around a one tonne Toyota SB light truck chassis and many other parts came from existing Toyota models. The engine was the proven 3.4-litre, six cylinder, model B developing 85hp. Hence, the Toyota BJ was born.

It was in 1954 that the historic decision was made by Hanji Umehara, then Toyota Director of Technology, to give the series a generic name – Land Cruiser. And, in 1955, Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser FJ25, one of the most powerful off-road vehicles in the world. It was to set the tone for the Land Cruisers to come.

Comfort, an early priority

The new vehicle used a 3.9-litre, 105hp, six cylinder F-series engine and comfort became a priority. The original canvas doors were replaced with steel ones and sliding windows while ride was improved with the original truck springs replaced by leaf ones from the Toyota Crown saloon.

The new vehicle was an instant success and, from 1956 onwards, significant exports were made, particularly to new markets in south-east Asia. A record 2,437 units were shipped in 1957.

The first major change to the Land Cruiser came with the introduction of the 40 series in 1960 and, in 1961, a longer wheelbase pick-up version was launched.

Sales success continued to grow and, in 1968, Toyota produced its 100,000th unit. A four speed gearbox was introduced in 1972 and, in 1982, the Land Cruiser range was fitted with a five-speed gearbox. By then improvements to the range included more safety, more comfort, front disc brakes, floor mounted handbrake and a larger (85 litres) fuel tank.

More comfort with coil springs

The hugely successful Land Cruiser 40 was replaced by the 70 series in 1984 and the range was expanded with the option of coil spring suspension – to complement the original leaf springs – a year later.

By 1990, when the 70 series received a number of important changes, the total number of Land Cruisers sold worldwide had reached the two million mark. The range was updated with new front styling for the coil-sprung version and power of both the petrol and diesel engines was increased.

The all new Land Cruiser 90 series, the direct forerunner of the new Toyota Land Cruiser, was introduced in 1996 in response to the new European market for medium Sports Utility Vehicles. Although still a genuine 4x4, based on a ladder-frame chassis, Land Cruiser 90 was more stylish, more spacious and had improved passenger comfort and safety as a priority.

The Land Cruiser station wagon In 1967, Toyota responded to the popular trend in the American market for more spacious and multi-purpose 4x4 vehicles with the launch of the Land Cruiser Station Wagon FJ55V. This was to create a new generation of Land Cruisers, running in parallel with the original off-road concept.

In 1980, the Land Cruiser 50 was replaced by the 60 series, which gave a more comfortable ride and was a huge sales success throughout America and Europe. The new vehicle had an even longer wheelbase (now 2,730mm) and a choice of either a 4.0-litre, six cylinder 105hp diesel or a 4.2-litre, six cylinder, 120hp petrol engine.

Land Cruiser 80, introduced in 1990, continued the development of the long wheelbase, station wagon style built in a design more adapted to the modern market. A more rounded body, rigid rear axle with coil springs and two new diesel engines were introduced. The 4.0-litre, 155hp petrol engine remained in the range with a 4.2-litre 130hp diesel and a 4.2-litre 167hp turbo diesel.

In 1998 Toyota launched the Land Cruiser 100 series with a new 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine developing 232hp, the most powerful Land Cruiser yet. Land Cruiser 100 was designed to sell alongside Land Cruiser 90 and Toyota’s trendy small sports utility vehicle, RAV4, to give customers a full model choice.

Land Cruiser 100 set out to inherit the crown ‘King of the Off-Roaders’ and added luxury specification to outstanding off-road ability. Independent, coil double wishbone front suspension and a coil sprung, rigid rear axle ensure excellent on-road comfort and stability.

Its latest incarnation, revealed at the Paris Mondial de l’Automobile 2002, is testament to the continued success of the Land Cruiser concept. More than four million Land Cruisers have now been sold worldwide – with more than 200,000 satisfied customers in Europe alone.