Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series aimed at grey nomads

The all-new 300 Series Toyota LandCruiser will be just as capable and grey nomad-friendly as the 200 Series it replaces in 2021 – whether it’s powered by V6 petrol, diesel or even hybrid powertrains, says Toyota.

Currently in development and subject to significant input from Australia – its largest market after the Middle East -- the next generation of Toyota’s flagship SUV appears certain to ditch the only engine available in the current model: the 200kW/650Nm 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel V8.

Toyota Australia axed the petrol V8 option for the LandCruiser 200 from August production and its parent company has promised some form of electrification for every model in its range by 2025.

That includes the new 300 Series, which has already been spied in testing, is due for release in about two years (by which time the 200 Series will be 14 years old) and will reportedly be available with turbocharged V6 diesel, petrol and petrol-electric hybrid powertrains for the first time.

Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley wouldn’t confirm or deny the demise of V8 diesel power for the next LandCruiser, nor shed any light on what hybrid power would bring to the new model, saying only that it will be capable.

“I think we'll have to wait and see on that question,” he said. “Whatever we bring out will be capable and I think our loyal owner base will be very pleased.

“I can tell you whatever we bring out in future will be exciting and capable," was all Hanley would say.

The eight-seat LandCruiser is favoured for its off-road ability, reliability, (3500kg) towing capacity and, thanks to its 138-litre dual-tank set-up, driving range.

The extra torque and efficiency of a V6 turbo-petrol engine assisted by an electric motor would be well suited to at least the latter two of these attributes – certainly more so than Prado’s 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

Toyota Motor Corporation has no V6 turbo-diesel engine in its current range, but its Lexus luxury brand’s new 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 produces a healthy 310kW/600Nm in the LS 500 limousine.

Interestingly, the same engine is detuned in the LS 500h and LC 500h hybrids, but combines with an electric motor to produce the same outputs with lower fuel consumption, and could offer more torque and/or efficiency if augmented by Toyota's upcoming third-gen hybrid system.

Toyota Australia senior public affairs specialist James Wang shed a little more light on the subject, hinting that a V6 powertrain is being looked at by Toyota's powertrain department for the new LandCruiser 300 Series.

“Whatever engine comes out on that car will definitely be fit for purpose, whether it’s a V8 or a V6 or whatever the future holds for that car," said Wang.

In terms of suspension tech, it's not yet clear if the new-generation LandCruiser 300 Series will be fitted with an updated version of the locally-developed suspension set-up in the current 200 Series, which employs Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) invented by West Australian company Kinetic.

The new LandCruiser 300 will, however, feature improved safety features, such as autonomous steering via lane-keep assist, and will given a more modern design inside and out.

After more than 12 years of duty, the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series is well overdue for a renovation -- particularly in terms of interior quality and technology – and will soon face more competition from an upgraded version of the Nissan Patrol.

Accounting for a small percentage of upper-large SUV sales in Australia, the Patrol is powered exclusively by a naturally aspirated 5.6-litre petrol V8 that delivers 298kW/650Nm.

When pressed on how much longer Australians will have to wait to see the new LandCruiser, Hanley stonewalled.

“Right now we don’t have any announcements to make on new-generation LandCruiser,” he said, before adding that the 200 Series continues to be a strong seller for Toyota, finding around 900 Aussie homes per month.

“It may be getting long in the tooth but I can tell you it's holding its sales rate. It’s a brilliant car, it’s got a huge market and we have a very loyal LandCruiser customer base in Australia,” said Hanley.

When the tape recorders were switched off, Hanley confirmed that the new-generation LandCruiser 300 Series is crucial to Toyota Australia and will benefit from local input, with Toyota Australia engineering and product planning staff expected to help guide its development.

The launch of the Toyota LC300 is expected to be followed a year later -- around 2022 -- by the release of a new Lexus LX, which will be based on the same platform.

Rendered Image: Andrew Panozzo