First Oz look: Toyota's all-new 200-Series sprung

THE next-generation LandCruiser has been caught testing in a country Victorian town.

Toyota Australia engineers are testing heavily-disguised prototypes of the new 200-Series LandCruiser that goes on sale this November.

The two big four-wheel-drives were spotted by GoAuto in the central Victorian country town of Woodend.

When the engineers realised they had been sprung, the drivers reversed quickly and moved away.

One backed into a telephone pole, but did little, if any, damage before speeding off.

The new LandCruiser could be a surprise star at the Australian Motor Show in Sydney this October, although GoAuto understands the plan has not yet been approved by Toyota headquarters in Japan.

A key component being tested by the local engineers is the new adjustable damping system developed by Western Australian company Kinetic.

The new 200-Series LandCruiser is expected to run a 4.5-litre common-rail V8, which delivers 151kW and 430Nm in the just-released 70-Series.

A twin-turbo version with 200kW and 600Nm has been widely speculated, but the version we spotted sounded more like a smaller-capacity diesel, which has also been rumoured.

The 4.0-litre petrol V6 from Kluger and HiLux should also be offered, along with a 5.0-litre petrol V8 - up from the the current LandCruiser's 4.7 V8.

Lexus has already released details of its new LX version which is heavily based on the forthcoming 200-Series and will definitely appear at the Australian Motor Show.

The Lexus version runs a 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine with 283kW and 540Nm and is expected to go on sale in Australia early next year.