Toyota Australia has added a double-cab ute to the LandCruiser 70 Series lineup, on the back of strong demand from the mining sector and rural and regional buyers. The new LC79 Double Cab arrives in late September 2012, making it the fourth body style in the range alongside the single cab-chassis, troop carrier and wagon.
Australia is the first country in the world to get the variant. You can pick it in two grades, Workmate and GXL, and both share the same core hardware as the rest of the 70 Series range.
At a Glance
- LC79 Double Cab on sale late September 2012, priced from $63,990 (Workmate) and $67,990 (GXL), excluding on-road costs.
- Australia is the first market in the world to receive the new body style.
- Both grades use the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 producing 151kW at 3400rpm and 430Nm from 1200rpm to 3200rpm, paired with a five-speed manual and part-time 4WD.
- Rated one-tonne payload capacity with seating for five adults.
- Production upgrades applied across the range include standard anti-skid brakes, an A-pillar snorkel, improved seats and a Bluetooth-capable audio system.
Both Double Cab grades run the 4.5-litre 32-valve common-rail direct-injection turbo-diesel V8. It's Euro IV compliant and it's intercooled. Power is rated at 151kW at 3400rpm. Peak torque of 430Nm arrives at just 1200rpm and holds through to 3200rpm, which Toyota calls the flattest torque curve of any engine in its lineup. Drive goes through a five-speed manual and a part-time 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case. Both grades carry a 130-litre fuel tank.
The Workmate opens at $63,990. You get 16-inch steel split rims, aluminium side steps, vinyl seat facings and floor coverings, black bumpers and an optional differential lock. The GXL starts at $67,990 and adds 16-inch alloy wheels, over-fender flares, remote central locking, standard differential locks, fog lamps, power windows, carpet and cloth seats. Seven exterior colours are offered across both grades.
The Double Cab also picks up the production updates applied across the wider 70 Series range. That means anti-skid brakes standard on all grades, an air-inlet snorkel on the A pillar, improved seats, an in-dash multi-function clock and an audio and CD system with Bluetooth hands-free calling, audio streaming and voice-recognition phone and audio control.
Toyota Australia's Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Matthew Callachor, said the demand had been clear for some time, with buyers already modifying wagons to get the same result.
"The 70-Series is so popular for the really tough jobs that customers have been modifying the wagon version to provide the flexibility of a double-cab ute," Mr Callachor said. "The double cab will carry five adults as well as providing a one-tonne payload for their heavy gear, such as surveying equipment."
Mr Callachor said the appeal goes past the resources sector. "For other customers, including farmers, the large cabin will allow the touring benefits of a dual-cab ute along with the legendary LandCruiser toughness," he said.
The 70 Series has been in production in one form or another for several decades. The wagon body style and the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 came in with the 2007 facelift, and dual front airbags became standard across all variants in 2009. Toyota says loyalty within the nameplate is exceptionally strong, with most buyers replacing an existing 70 Series.
Across the rest of the range, wagon grades are priced from $59,990 (Workmate) and $64,290 (GXL); troop carrier grades from $65,790 (Workmate) and $67,990 (GXL); and single cab-chassis grades from $58,790 (Workmate), $60,790 (GX) and $62,790 (GXL). All prices exclude dealer delivery, government and statutory charges and optional extras.
If you've been looking at an aftermarket conversion to get a double cab out of a 79, you can now order one from the factory instead.
