Toyota Australia has taken the covers off a substantially revised LandCruiser 70 Series, headlined by two genuine firsts: a 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel engine and an all-new four-door wagon variant. The updated range goes on sale across Cab Chassis, Wagon and Troop Carrier body styles, all sharing a revised front end that Toyota says delivers a wider track and a more imposing stance.
The overhaul extends well beyond the new engine. Every model in the lineup receives a new grille, headlamps, front fenders and front bumpers, along with an engine immobiliser and a CD player with MP3 compatibility as standard fitment.
At a Glance
- New 4.5-litre V8 common-rail turbo-diesel produces 151kW at 3400rpm and 430Nm from 1200rpm to 3200rpm, replacing the previous six-cylinder diesel lineup.
- Power is up 23.7 per cent and torque is up 13.1 per cent over the outgoing six-cylinder turbo-diesel, with fuel economy also improving slightly.
- A four-door wagon body style joins the range for the first time, aimed at buyers needing dual work and recreational capability.
- Prices start at $53,490 (excluding on-road costs) for the Cab Chassis Workmate, a $1,440 or 2.8 per cent increase over the previous entry-level model.
- All models are available in Workmate and GXL grades, with Cab Chassis models also offering a mid-range GX grade.
The 32-valve, Euro IV-compliant V8 uses common-rail direct injection and an intercooler, and features a graphite-iron cylinder block, a first for Toyota, engineered to manage high combustion pressures while keeping weight and dimensions in check. Drive goes through a five-speed manual transmission paired with a two-speed transfer case and a part-time 4WD system with manual free-wheeling front hubs.
Toyota says the V8's torque curve is the flattest of any engine in its lineup. Peak torque of 430Nm arrives at just 1200rpm and holds all the way to 3200rpm, a characteristic well suited to the low-speed, high-load conditions the 70 Series typically operates in. Despite the power gains, fuel consumption has improved: Cab Chassis models are rated at 11.5 litres per 100km on the ADR81/01 combined cycle, down from 11.7L/100km, while the Wagon and Troop Carrier come in at 11.9L/100km, down from 12.0L/100km.
The new Wagon body style seats five, with two front bucket seats and a three-seat rear bench. The Troop Carrier continues in three-seat or 11-seat Workmate configurations, as well as a five-seat GXL variant. The Cab Chassis lineup retains an additional mid-grade GX option not available on other body styles.
Toyota Australia's senior executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner, said the 70 Series had built its reputation over nearly 50 years in Australia. "By consistently delivering reliability and durability, as well as legendary off-road and towing capabilities, the LandCruiser 70 Series has maintained a loyal following that is both unique and enduring," Mr Buttner said. He pointed to the original FJ25 LandCruisers that worked on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme in 1958 as the foundation of that legacy.
The Cab Chassis Workmate opens the range at $53,490 before on-road costs, representing a $1,440 premium over the outgoing entry-level six-cylinder turbo-diesel model.
For existing 70 Series owners, the arrival of a factory wagon body style and a torquier V8 engine marks the most significant step-change the platform has seen in years.
