More 'Cruiser details emerge

DIE-HARD LandCruiser fans rejoice: Toyota has confirmed what has been widely speculated for more than 12 months: that the upcoming 200-Series off-roader will be powered by an even more powerful version of the all-new 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 that debuted in April in the upgraded 70-Series LandCruiser wagon and ute.

Though Toyota Australia has announced only that the redesigned LandCruiser 200 will go on sale here in November with “more powerful petrol and diesel V8 engines”, full specifications have been revealed overseas that show Toyota’s first diesel V8 develops up to 210kW at 3600rpm, along with a whopping 650Nm of torque between 1600 and 2800rpm.

Toyota does not divulge whether, as is expected, the eighth-generation LandCruiser’s D-4D diesel V8 is a twin-turbo version of the 70-Series’ single-turbo V8, but confirms it will be mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. In Australia's 70-Series, the "D-4D" V8 delivers 151kW at 3400rpm and 430Nm between 1200rpm and 3200rpm.

What’s more, Toyota claims the redesigned LandCruiser’s diesel V8 returns European combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 10.2L/100km – a four per cent improvement on the 4.2-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel it replaces.

Meanwhile, the current 100-Series LandCruiser’s 4.7-litre petrol V8, which could arrive earlier than the diesel in Australia, has been upgraded for employment in the new Cruiser. Now featuring “intelligent variable valve timing (VVT-i)”, it delivers 212kW at 5400rpm and 445Nm at 3400rpm in Europe.

Toyota says that with European combined-cycle fuel consumption of 14.4L/100km it is 12 per cent more fuel efficient than the 100-Series’ petrol V8. It will drive through a five-speed automatic transmission and both V8s are Euro4 emissions-compliant.

Other new figures reveal the European-spec 200-Series rides on the same 2850mm wheelbase but will be 4950mm long (up 60mm), 1970mm wide (up 30mm) and between 1865mm and 1910mm high (up 15mm) – the latter when the vehicle is fitted with a world-first “4-Wheel Active Height Control and Adaptive Variable Suspension (4W AHC and AVS)” suspension system.

Toyota Australia does not reveal if the adaptive and height-adjustable suspension system will be available here but, as reported, has confirmed Aussie 200s will come with the Australian-developed “Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS)”, a world-first “Crawl Control” system and a new torque-sensing “Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD)”.

Europe’s Cruiser will also get up to 14 airbags (four more than will be available in Australia), and matches our model with a new “multi-terrain” ABS, plus VSC stability control with EBD.

The 200-Series LandCruiser’s European press release explained why Toyota’s top-selling full-size SUV will feature a redesigned (but still a rugged body-on-chassis design) platform, and why the new model’s exterior design is not radically different from its almost ten-year-old forebear.

“For more than 50 years now three key words have been the basis of each generation of Land Cruiser: strength, durability and reliability,” chief engineer Sadayoshi Koyari was quoted as saying.

“Therefore, rather than opting for revolutionary change, we decided to carry on the sense of trust in the LandCruiser as the basic concept. With the latest generation we had to recognise the loyalty of LandCruiser customers by providing a vehicle that will not betray their trust.” The 200-Series was released in Japan this week, makes its Australian public debut at the Sydney motor show on October 11 before goin on sale in late November, and makes its European debut at the St Petersburg motor show in Russia on October 24 before hitting European showrooms in December.

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