TOYOTA has lastly unveiled its new-generation 300 Collection LandCruiser and confirmed a fourth-quarter arrival for the Australian market, with the flagship off-roader ditching its fabled V8 powertrain in favour of a gruntier however extra environment friendly twin-turbo six.
Brandishing a boxy however modernised new look, Toyota says the 300 Collection LandCruiser is lighter, stiffer and extra succesful than its 200 Collection predecessor thanks partly to its new TNGA platform, new-generation powertrain and improved suspension.
Regardless of dropping two cylinders and 1200cc of capability, the brand new force-fed 3.3-litre V6 diesel engine churns out 227kW of energy and 700Nm of torque – enhancements of 27kW and 50Nm over the V8 – with efficiency additional aided by the actual fact the 300 Collection is 100kg lighter than its predecessor.
The brand new mill is paired completely to an equally new 10-speed computerized transmission leading to “noticeably decrease gas consumption and emissions”, though Toyota is but to launch official figures to assist these claims.
To assist make the large bruiser as succesful off-road as its legendary nameplate suggests, engineers set about extending the LandCruiser’s suspension journey to assist articulation and growing a brand new ‘Multi Terrain Choose’ perform that robotically judges the highway floor and selects probably the most applicable driving mode.
Different new expertise will embody an optionally available digital ‘Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System’ (e-KDSS) – digital sway bar disconnector – and a brand new ‘Multi-Terrain Monitor’ designed to assist enhance visibility off-road.
As a new-generation car, Toyota has thrown the kitchen sink on the 300 Collection when it comes to security options, with all variations to come back with the newest Toyota Security Sense lively security bundle that now features a new pre-collision system able to detecting each pedestrians (day and night time) and cyclists (day).
Different headline security options are car and pedestrian detection at intersections, together with when turning, in addition to an emergency steering and crash-avoidance perform.
Though the LandCruiser 300 is underpinned by the Toyota New International Structure (TNGA) that has been the premise of latest Toyota and Lexus fashions since 2015, it retains the separate body construction that lends itself to heavy-duty off-road use and a 3.5-tonne braked towing capability.
The form of the 300’s bumpers and light-weight positions have been designed to keep away from harm whereas off-road, in accordance with Toyota, which says the general dimensions, departure and strategy angles are broadly just like the outgoing 200 Collection.
Abroad markets can have entry to a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol engine growing 305kW and 650Nm, additionally distributing drive by way of a 10-speed computerized transmission. GoAuto understands petrol-powered variations will likely be an additional 100kg lighter than the diesels.
A hybrid possibility can be on the playing cards.
Toyota Australia Vice President Gross sales, Advertising and marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley stated the LandCruiser growth staff had taken “intensive enter from Australian homeowners who’ve expertise in a number of the world’s harshest environments”.
“The brand new LandCruiser vary brings improved design and superior new applied sciences that advance its efficiency in all circumstances whereas enhancing its consolation, comfort and security as a luxurious car.”
For the reason that LandCruiser lineage was established in 1951 with the Toyota BJ, greater than 10.4 million off-roaders bearing the legendary badge (together with 70 Collection and Prado) have been bought all over the world, of which 1.12 million – greater than 10 per cent – had been delivered in Australia.
Regardless of the 300 Collection being launched this 12 months, final month the mixed 200 and 70 sequence quantity made the LandCruiser Australia’s fourth best-selling car with 3399 examples delivered, bringing the year-to-date tally to 14,877 models.
