AUSTRALIA is one in all Toyota’s strongest LandCruiser 70 Sequence markets, with one in 5 of all fashions produced bought right here, which is why engineers spent 15 months testing and validating the sturdiness and reliability of the brand new four-cylinder engine and automated transmission mixture Down Below.
Given its stage of recognition, and the circumstances LC70s are uncovered to every day, it’s maybe no shock that Toyota subjected its newest mannequin to what it says was a gruelling native improvement program, making certain the four-cylinder adaptation was an applicable match for the hard-working mannequin.
In response to Toyota, Australia has performed a big function within the improvement of its tailored four-cylinder powertrain, the HiLux-sourced engine and transmission present process a collection of modifications to make sure its suitability within the demanding software, whereas concurrently assembly Toyota’s strict sturdiness necessities.
A part of the testing was replication of some excessive real-world use circumstances that LandCruiser clients in a number of the most distant and harsh components of Australia advised the corporate their automobiles had been required to carry out in.
Native improvement of the brand new powertrain for the LandCruiser 70 Sequence started in 2017 when Japanese-based Toyota engineers flew to Australia to satisfy with the native engineering staff and to witness first-hand how native clients use their LC70.
The crew travelled deep into the Australian outback, consulting farmers, distant space emergency providers, park ranges, Aboriginal land councils, and forestry fireplace ranges who use the 70 Sequence in a spread of purposes – all of which contain heavy use in off- and no-road circumstances.
Toyota Australia automobile analysis and laws senior supervisor Ray Munday stated the influence that the LandCruiser 70 Sequence has on distant communities was clear to see in the course of the analysis journey.
He stated suggestions from clients highlighted a want that the mannequin retain its inflexible entrance axle, 3500kg braked towing capability, sturdiness when traversing the hardest terrain, and continued compatibility with a variety of equipment.
“This can be a ‘contribution to neighborhood’ automobile,” defined Mr Munday.
“It allows the livelihoods of lots of people in Australia. Whenever you meet these individuals and perceive what this product does for individuals within the centre of Australia, it’s very laborious to think about from the consolation of cities like Sydney and Melbourne simply how influential this automobile is in enabling so many livelihoods.
“We spoke to a buyer who would exit on feral animal management expeditions for a few weeks the place they’d tow about 2000kg of aviation gas.
“One (70 Sequence) was stuffed with ammunition, one was stuffed with tenting gear, one was stuffed with meals and water, and so they’d exit and camp for a couple of weeks in the course of the outback about 700km from Alice Springs, driving throughout sand, riverbeds, doing this loopy work out in the course of summer season.
“To check the sturdiness and functionality of the brand new four-cylinder powertrain, we truly recreated that excessive situation.”
That ‘excessive situation’ was essential to making sure the LC70 functioned to requirement when handed over to clients, and following the preliminary reconnaissance in 2017, 4 prototype automobiles geared up with the four-cylinder engine had been freighted to Australia in 2019 as a part of a real-world improvement and analysis program for the evaluation of long-term sturdiness.
In response to Mr Munday, engineers “torture examined” the 1GD-series engine and six-speed automated transmission in a broad vary of hardcore utilization situations primarily based on buyer necessities, with heavy towing testing up hills, in low-range situations, sand climbs and dust and water crossings.
Mountaineering at most GVM and outback driving in dusty driving conditions with a number of equipment fitted additionally fashioned a part of the testing course of.
“Loads of the planning was how we may make the automobile best suited for these kind of clients,” he added.
In complete, roughly 15 months of testing and validation was carried out in Australia, serving to engineers to know the sturdiness and reliability of the four-cylinder engine and automated transmission.
In 2021 and 2022, additional long-distance sturdiness and reliability testing was carried out in harsh Australian circumstances, with modifications to the powertrain’s gearing, cooling and mounting methods developed utilizing suggestions from the primary spherical of testing.
Modifications had been made to the HiLux-sourced engine to “guarantee its long-term sturdiness and functionality working in usually harsh circumstances for prolonged durations”.
Essentially the most important change has been to the oil pan which has been redesigned and is now constituted of pressed metal in contrast with the forged aluminium utilized in different fashions.
The form and building of the oil strainer and oil stage sensor have additionally been up to date to optimise efficiency, whereas the oil filter is oriented extra horizontally to scale back potential injury in off-road environments.
To make sure optimum engine cooling below heavy-duty use reminiscent of towing and low-range off-roading, a larger-diameter cooling fan has been fitted. The brand new fan will increase the load on the V-ribbed belt, so engineers have adopted an isolation crank pulley to assist management pace fluctuations and enhance sturdiness.
Mr Munday stated the gruelling testing regime confirmed the immense functionality of the four-cylinder engine, aided by the efficiency of the automated transmission which supplied explicit profit in tough driving situations.
“The GD with the auto is definitely an amazingly succesful product,” he stated.
“With the automated transmission – particularly for towing or driving on sand – it makes the ability much more accessible. It’s a a lot simpler automobile to drive.”
For the primary time for the reason that current-generation LandCruiser 70 Sequence was launched in 2007, clients can be provided the selection of two powertrains with the introduction of the 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.
Providing elevated torque (+70Nm) and with round 10 per cent decreased gas consumption in comparison with the V8, the four-cylinder engine is mated completely to a six-speed automated transmission.
Regardless of its smaller capability and fewer cylinders in contrast with the V8, the two.8-litre turbo-diesel presents sturdy outputs of 150kW at 3400rpm, with a substantial 500Nm obtainable from 1600rpm by to 2800rpm.
Gas consumption is rated at 9.6 litres per 100km primarily based on Toyota Motor Company figures achieved on an identical take a look at to the Australian ADR81/02 mixed cycle take a look at.
This engine is obtainable completely with a six-speed torque-converter automated transmission, providing “easy and dependable operability in all circumstances whereas being effectively fitted to fleet purposes the place drivers will not be acquainted or comfy working a handbook transmission”, says Toyota Australia.
The AC60 transmission has additionally been tried and examined in different heavy-duty Toyota automobiles over a protracted time frame and has likewise been bolstered with enhancements to enhance cooling efficiency.
The transmission oil capability has been elevated with the fitment of a deeper oil pan, permitting extra secure distribution of oil strain when driving on uneven slopes by optimising the oil strainer consumption place and including a transmission breather system oil catch tank.
Driving efficiency by our bodies of water has been improved by adjusting the tip of the breather hose to 900mm above floor stage, whereas a guard has been put in to guard the decrease floor of the oil pan in harsh off-road circumstances.
Together with the convenience supplied by two-pedal driving, the six-speed automated transmission offers additional profit with a Energy/Haul drive mode to optimise efficiency when towing or elevated energy is demanded.
A second gear begin swap makes it simpler to get out of sticky conditions when off-roading, bypassing the primary gear and beginning in second, to offer highly effective start-off acceleration in slippery or low traction circumstances.
Handbook gear shifting can be obtainable through the shift lever.
Mr Munday stated the addition of a sixth gear (with a gear ratio of 0.58) ensures “relaxed engine operation at freeway speeds”, serving to to scale back engine noise and enhance gas consumption.
The 1GD engine can be provided alongside the beloved and long-standing 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 engine, that’s paired with a five-speed handbook transmission.
Most outputs stay the identical with 151kW of energy at 3400rpm and 430Nm of torque obtainable over a large rev band, from a low 1200rpm all through to 3200rpm.
Carryover mixed cycle gas consumption from earlier ADR81/02 testing is 10.7 litres per 100km.
All LandCruiser 70 Sequence grades make use of a part-time four-wheel drive system with a low-range switch case, with GXL grades including normal entrance and rear locking differentials.
Gas tank capability stands at a beneficiant 130 litres throughout the vary except the Troop Provider, which expands to a formidable 180 litres break up throughout two separate 90-litre tanks.
A extremely inflexible ladder-frame chassis helps inflexible live-axle suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar on the entrance and semi-elliptic leaf springs on the rear, matched with hydraulic energy steering.
Stopping energy comes from four-piston fastened entrance calipers on 322mm x 32mm ventilated discs, with single-piston floating calipers on the rear mated to 312mm x 18mm ventilated discs.
As a part of the 70 Sequence replace in 2022, gross automobile mass (GVM) was elevated to 3510kg, permitting for elevated payload.
Payloads vary from 1060kg to 1380kg, relying on the grade and body-type permitting for beneficiant load-hauling and the fitment of equipment with out overstepping the utmost GVM.
All grades proceed to supply a most braked towing capability of 3500kg no matter engine and transmission selection, with the automated transmission designed to offer sturdy towing efficiency in robust circumstances reminiscent of sand and off-road driving.
“Toyota has solid a deep reference to lots of Australia’s rural and regional communities, a bond that continues to at the present time. Let me let you know, it’s a bond that we by no means take with no consideration,” stated Toyota Australia vice chairman of gross sales, advertising and marketing, and franchise operations Sean Hanley.
A Toyota mandated embargo means GoAuto can’t its report driving impressions of the automobile till later in December. Go to GoAuto once more quickly for our drive impressions of the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence.
