Toyota excites with world premiere of all-new 2024 Land Cruiser
Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) unveiled the all-new 2024 Land Cruiser “250” Series and the all-new Land Cruiser “70” Series to the world on August 2, 2023.
Simon Humphries, Member of the Board of Directors, Operating Officer, Senior General Manager of Design Field, and Chief Branding Officer of Toyota, made the live presentation of the all-new 2024 Land Cruiser range (prototypes) from Toyota City, Japan.
The all-new Land Cruiser “250” Series launch is planned for the first half of 2024 in Japan, while the heavy-duty Land Cruiser “70” will make its return to Japan later this year.
More than a household name in the Middle East region for several decades, the all-new Land Cruiser will be marketed in the United States and Europe for the first time under the Land Cruiser branding.
The trio
The Toyota Land Cruiser range is divided into three different series – the Station Wagon that has evolved into the flagship model (300 Series); the Heavy-Duty model with unique durability and off-road driving performance (70 Series); and the Light-Duty model that provides ease of handling and comfort on an off-road base as a lifestyle and practical choice for customers (Prado).
Since its initial launch in 1951, the Land Cruiser has been developed and refined over more than 70 years as one of Toyota’s signature models, based on the actual usage situations of global customers.
The 250 Series is a core Land Cruiser model that returns to the car’s origin, a vehicle that is simple and sturdy, and helps fulfill both customers’ lifestyle choices and practical needs.
GA-F platform
It now comes with improved basic performance as an off-roader through adoption of the GA-F platform, with various powertrains to achieve powerful driving performance and environmental performance, interior and exterior styling that fuses traditional and modern in a functional package, and class-leading advanced safety performance.
Launched originally as the Toyota BJ on August 1, 1951, the Land Cruiser series is today 72 years old. Immediately after its launch, the Toyota BJ became the first vehicle to climb to the sixth station of Mount Fuji.
Developed and refined based on the actual usage situations of global customers, the Land Cruiser provides reliability, durability, and off-road performance that allows people to go anywhere and everywhere and return safely.
This concept has been passed down and evolved. With cumulative sales of about 11.3 million units (including the Lexus LX and GX) as of June 23 in approximately 170 countries and regions around the world, the Land Cruiser has supported the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere.
The 250 Series
The Land Cruiser Light Duty 250 Series has tended to shift toward high-end and luxury models as the generations have evolved.
In developing the today’s all-new 250 Series, Toyota’s then-President Akio Toyoda, who has the ultimate responsibility for product development, explained his basic approach as: “The Land Cruiser should be a car that supports people’s lives and local communities, so the Light Duty model must return to the true form that customers are looking for.”
In response, the Toyota development team defined the concept as returning to the origin of the Land Cruiser. With the spirit of rebuilding the model, they have created a simple and sturdy vehicle that can be trusted by customers to fulfill their lifestyle choices and practical needs.
The new 250 Series is a core Land Cruiser model with the same GA-F platform as the 300 Series to dramatically improve basic performance as an off-roader.
It also comes with various powertrains to achieve even more powerful driving performance and environmental performance. It was created in pursuit of unique Land Cruiser characteristics, incorporating interior and exterior styling that fuses traditional and modern in a functional package.
The aim was to create a next-generation Land Cruiser with improved ease of handling and comfort for both on- and off-road driving, while also delivering class-leading advanced safety performance.
Off-road performance
Featuring the same GA-F platform as the 300 Series, the new 250 Series has dramatically improved off-road performance. As a reliable and practical choice for customers, it has improved ease of handling and comfort for on-road driving as well.
In line with Toyota’s carbon neutrality initiatives that take a diverse multi-pathway approach, the all-new 250 Series comes with various powertrains, including the first hybrid system for a Land Cruiser. These achieve powerful driving performance and environmental performance.
The 250 Series achieves good forward visibility through a low-set cowl and instrument panel top surface, which contribute to safe on- and off-road driving. It also employs a low beltline to improve visibility of road surfaces even on rough roads.
With the durability of parts and easy repairs in the event of breakages, the 250 Series design takes customisability into account to allow users to enjoy their vehicle in their own unique ways.
The exterior styling of the 250 Series employs horizontal lines to reproduce the unique Land Cruiser silhouette, while interior styling has shifted from a high-end, luxury ambiance to the feeling of true off-road functionality.
Coupled with a sturdy and stable interior space, horizontal instrument panel, and switch shapes that are clear and easy to operate in a range of driving conditions, styling contributes to improved functionality even on rough roads.
The 70 Series
The 70 Series features a 2.8-litre diesel engine and 6-speed automatic transmission to deliver strong driving performance and excellent fuel economy.
Instead of the traditional petrol-powered engine, the new 70 Series comes with an updated 2.8-litre 1GD turbo diesel engine powertrain that boasts unique reliability. It delivers the tough off-road performance only available from a high-torque, high-output diesel engine, while achieving a low-noise, quiet ride and improved fuel economy.
(Hero image L-R): Keita Moritsu, Mid-size Company ZJ, Chief Engineer of Toyota; Simon Humphries, Member of the Board of Directors, Operating Officer, Senior General Manager of Design Field, Chief Branding Officer of Toyota and Hiroaki Nakajima, Member of the Board of Directors, Executive Vice President, Mid-size Company, President of Toyota. Image: Toyota
Watch the global premiere of the all-new 2024 Land Cruiser lineup on August 2, 2023:
Last Updated on 1 year by Arnold Pinto
