Bruce Newton, drive.com.au, 31/10/06

Toyota's next-generation LandCruiser will be bigger and more powerful than ever, despite softening 4WD sales and rising fuel prices, reports BRUCE NEWTON.

Toyota's next-generation LandCruiser 4WD caught testing in southern Europe. Heavy black cladding can't disguise rounder styling for new model.

The era of the large 4WD wagon isn't over yet - not if Toyota has its way with the next LandCruiser.

Due in Australia toward the end of 2007, the all-new 'Cruiser will employ a powerful V8 turbo-diesel engine and Australian suspension technology to attract buyers back to the heavyweight end of the SUV market.

That's not all that's leaked out as Toyota Australia begins spruiking the next 'Cruiser to dealers. It will be tagged as the 200 Series, as revealed by Japan's Magazine X, and not the 130 Series as is being widely reported.

The current wagon, launched in 1998, is known as the 100 Series.

The 200 Series will be the last of four significant new model launches for market leader Toyota in 2007. First up will come the 10th-generation Corolla around April, then the supercharged TRD Aurion mid-year, then the Kluger soft-roader and finally the LandCruiser.

As petrol prices bite into hip pockets, heavy-duty 4WD sales are off 42 per cent year-on-year, which helps explain why Toyota's excitement focuses on the 200's diesel engine.

Measuring 4.5 litres in capacity with a turbocharger for each bank of cylinders, the 200 will generate more than 200kW. But much more impressively, the torque figure will be 650Nm.

This massive amount of pulling power simply obliterates the current LandCruiser turbo-diesel options, a 96kW/285Nm 4.2-litre normally aspirated in-line six, and a 151kW/357Nm turbo I6.

But there's more. The turbo-diesel engine will be backed up by a new six-speed Aisin automatic transmission, and there will be uprated petrol choices for those who eschew diesel drivetrains. The 4.0-litre V6 currently employed by Prado and HiLux should be in the line-up, while the current 4.7-litre V8 is expected to grow to 5.0 litres.

Crucially, although the 200 Series is expected to be a little bigger, it does not escalate in weight, which is important considering the current vehicle tops out at a kerb weight of 2710kg.

The 200 Series is based on a new separate-chassis structure, with double-wishbone front and live axle rear-end to ensure it retain its mountain-goat ability.

But at least the upper-specification models also get the Australian-developed Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. Toyota has had a licence deal with Kinetic since 2002 and uses the hydraulic system in the US-market GX470 (Prado).

Kinetic is based at Dunsborough in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. Its suspension design has also been used by the Citroen and Mitsubishi factory teams in rallying and off-road competition.

According to dealer sources, Australian testing of the 200 Series fitted with the Kinetic system have shown incredible ability to traverse rough ground comfortably and at speed.

While the 200 Series LandCruiser is launching into a struggling part of the market, the Kluger will take on a plethora of light-duty 4WDs including the Subaru Tribeca, Mazda CX-7 (and CX-9 in 2008), Holden Captiva, Mitsubishi Outlander and locally manufactured Ford Territory.

Powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 and six-speed auto as the Aurion, the new Kluger will be available in both front- and all-wheel-drive formats. It is said to be significantly bigger than the current vehicle, which is now smaller than the compact RAV4 in some measures.

Australia is the only right-hand-drive market currently selling the Kluger

by Hans Lehmann/Hidden Image (2007-02-12)


2009 Toyota Land Cruiser

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Toyota 's big off-roader, the Land Cruiser, underwent a minor facelift in 2005. But now, we've spotted a prototype of the next-generation Land Cruiser during secret hot-weather testing in the state of South Australia , in the Australian Outback.



One of the interesting aspects of the vehicle is what appears to be an air or hydraulic suspension which lowers the vehicle when the ignition is turned off, presumably for better entry and exit. The vehicle appears slightly longer, lower, and wider in profile than the current 100 Series Land Cruiser.



Gas engines are sure to be offered, as is a new 4.5-liter common-rail V-8 turbodiesel just introduced by Toyota . In the 70 Series range this engine produces 203 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque from 1200 rpm.



The new Land Cruiser is expected to appear at this fall's Tokyo Motor Show.



Christa Lehmann / Hidden Image