Airbags but no ABS for LandCruiser 70

TOYOTA has revealed pricing for its upgraded 70 Series LandCruiser utility, five-door wagon and Troop Carrier range, which arrives in dealerships from September for an extra $600 but without ABS.

The technical upgrade for the 70 Series workhorse range, which dates back to 1984, will bring a number of revisions, however, led by a new dashboard to house driver and front passenger airbags as standard from July production.

Toyota has long justified the lack of airbags and anti-lock brakes in its long-running 70 Series single-cab/chassis and Troopie line-ups because of their popularity with fleet purchasers, including mining companies, which apparently do not want either potentially life-saving feature fitted as standard.

But it seems the first upgrade for the 70 Series since its aged 4.2-litre inline six-cylinder diesel engine was replaced by the new 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel in March 2007, when the five-door wagon derivative also became available here for the first time, will bring airbags but not ABS.

Apart from twin front airbags and a new 200-Series LandCruiser-style dashboard, all 70 Series models will also come with a reach-adjustable four-spoke steering wheel, revised instruments with adjustable illumination, interior bottle holder, new head restraints and an upgraded sound system with USB interface and hands-free Bluetooth connectivity.

Left: LandCruiser Troop Carrier.

Outside, the 70 Series ute, wagon and Troopie will be differentiated by revised front bumpers and a new chromed V8 badge instead of the current ‘4500 V8’ decal.

The 70 Series technical upgrade also comprises a fuel consumption reduction for the diesel V8 now fitted as standard across the range. In the 70 Series cab-chassis’ case, combined average fuel consumption reduces by almost half a litre per 100km, from 11.9 to 11.5L/100km.

Prices increase by $600 across the all-diesel 70 Series board, following a $1450 range-wide price increase from June 1, with the entry-level Single Cab Chassis WorkMate now priced at $57,640, the GXL diesel now costing $59,640 and the flagship GXL ute’s sticker at $60,640.

The upgraded 70 Series Troop Carrier continues to comprise the WorkMate ($64,540) and GXL ($66,040), while the five-door 70 Series wagon now opens at $58,540 for the WorkMate and closes at $62,040 for the GXL.

Metallic paint ($400), air-conditioning ($2761) and mechanical front and rear differential locks ($2735) continue to be 70 Series options across the range.

Meantime, Toyota has also increased the prices of the more luxurious 200 Series LandCruiser wagon by between $260 and $2260, just three months after 200 Series prices were increased by $2250 across the board.

The petrol LandCruiser 200 wagon line-up continues to open with the entry-level GXL, which now costs $76,240 (up $260), while the VX is now priced at $87,500 (up $500) and the flagship Sahara costs $105,250 (up $2010).

The diesel LandCruiser 200 wagon is up $510 at base (GLX) level, to $86,750, with the mid-range VX now costing $97,750 (up $750) and the flagship Sahara now priced at some $115,500 – up $2,260.

While the 200 Series wagon and three 70 Series derivatives all increase in price, Toyota’s third LandCruiser model family – the 120 Series Prado – will make its global debut in all-new fourth-generation guise within months, before going on sale in Australia in both three and five-door body styles from November.

Latest information from Japan indicates that, despite riding on the same 2790mm wheelbase as it currently does, the new Prado will shrink in overall length and height – but not width.

The new five-door will be 90mm shorter than before 4760mm, as well as 10mm wider at 1885mm and 15mm lower at 1850mm.

The new Prado’s ground clearance will increase by 15mm to 220mm, while its kerb weight will increase from about 1900kg to at least 2080kg, with the heaviest version packing a kerb weight of 2180kg.

The basic configuration of the current Prado’s J120 platform, which is shared with the 4Runner, HiLux Surf and FJ Cruiser (not sold here), will continue with double-wishbone front and trailing-arm rear suspension systems and a rack-and-pinion steering set-up.

Upgraded versions of 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and 4.0-litre petrol V6 found in the current Prado, which was first released in 2002, are again expected to be mated to a full-time four-wheel drive system via six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions, a low-range transfer case and centre differential.

2009 Toyota LandCruiser pricing:
LandCruiser 70 Series:
Model	Price	Difference
WorkMate Single Cab Chassis	$57,640	(+$600)
WorkMate Wagon	$58,540	(+$600)
GX Single Cab Chassis	$59,640	(+$600)
GXL Single Cab Chassis	$60,640	(+$600)
GXL Wagon	$62,040	(+$600)
WorkMate Troop Carrier	$64,540	(+$600)
GXL Troop Carrier	$66,040	(+$600)
LandCruiser 200 Series:
GXL Petrol Wagon (a)	$76,500	(+$260)
GXL Turbo Diesel Wagon (a)	$86,750	(+$510)
VX Petrol Wagon (a)	$87,500	(+$500)
VX Turbo Diesel Wagon (a)	$97,750	(+$750)
Sahara Petrol Wagon (a)	$105,250	(+$2010)
Sahara Turbo Diesel Wagon (a)	$115,500	(+$2260)