New Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series takes shape

The 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser and its luxury sibling, the Lexus LX, have been strong-selling vehicles in Australia by virtue of their reputation for reliability and go-anywhere capability.

But after more than a decade of service, both cars are in need of an overhaul to update their technology and powertrains, particularly as stricter emissions standards loom.

And it appears that's exactly what they'll get with confirmation that a new Toyota LandCruiser is on its way within a couple of years or so.

A Toyota source recently confirmed that the new 300 Series LandCruiser is "under development" and we understand that early prototypes have already done duty on Australian soil.

Furthermore, the new Toyota LandCruiser is due to reach showrooms in 2021, with the Lexus LX coming a year later in 2022.

Japanese publication Best Car has mocked up CG renders of the new eight-seat SUVs and reports that a concept car version of the next-gen Toyota LandCruiser that may break cover before year's end, possibly at the 2019 Tokyo motor show in late October.

When the new 300 Series Toyota LandCruiser makes its showroom debut, the well-regarded eight-seat upper-large SUV is expected to retain its classic proportions, off-road ability and towing capacity while adding modern design cues, such as sleeker headlights.

The new models will offer significant improvements in safety technology, with features such as lane keep assist likely to be part of the new models tech armoury, along with completely new infotainment systems.

In the case of the 2021 Toyota LandCruiser, new off-road features and electronic gadgetry are also expected.

In the past Toyota Australia has had significant input in the off-road capability of the 200 Series LandCruiser, after acquiring the rights to West Australian company Kinetic Suspension Technology's KDSS (kinetic dynamic suspension system).

It remains to be seen if further collaborations will be undertaken, or whether Toyota has seen fit to bring new technologies to the 300 Series, such as the transparent A-pillar tech it patented in 2017.

Available today with a 4.6-litre petrol V8 (227kW/439Nm) and a 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel V8 (200kW/650Nm), the current generation 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser features a 138-litre dual fuel tank set-up.

The Lexus LX is offered with the same diesel V8 but gets a larger, brawnier 5.7-litre V8 engine (270kW/530Nm).

It's unclear what engine options the flagship Toyota and Lexus SUVs will have under their bonnets, but it's almost certain smaller capacity engines will be necessary – alongside hybrid augmentation – to adhere to tightening emissions regulations.

Toyota has previously promised to deliver a hybrid version of every model in its range by 2030, at which point the 300 Series will still be in showrooms.

One Lexus source suggested the company was looking at different powertrain solutions given the way emissions regulations are progressing, but a hydrogen fuel-cell set-up may be a bridge too far.

Toyota has previously said it will stop developing diesel-powered passenger cars in future as the fuel's market acceptance continues to wane, but that for now LandCruiser is safe. It remains to be seen if this will be the case for the new-generation model.

In 2018 a total 13,677 Toyota LandCruisers were sold in Australia, making it more popular than many smaller and cheaper SUVs -- despite being priced between around $80,000 to $120,000.

Major global markets for the LandCruiser include Australia and the Middle East.

The Lexus LX, meantime, found 404 buyers in the same 12-month period and is priced much higher -- between $134,000 and $170,000.

Nominal price rises are to be expected when both new models are replaced, due chiefly to improved technology and equipment levels.

The LandCruiser is Toyota's longest running model and the first Toyota model to be officially sold in Australia, which became the Japanese giant's first export market in the late 1950s.

Every LandCruiser since then has been at least partly developed Down Under, including the 40 Series (1960), 50 Series (1967), 60 Series (1980), 80 Series (1990), 100 Series (1998) and the current 200 Series released in 2007.

The more agricultural 70 Series Toyota LandCruiser is also developed largely for Australia, for which the dual-cab and five-star-safe single-cab versions were primarily designed. But despite dating back to 1984, the existing LandCruiser ute, wagon and TroopCarrier derivatives are likely to solider on unchanged for the foreseeable future.

CG images via Best Car