Toyota toasts 70 years of Land Cruiser by unleashing the all-new 300 in SA
Did you know that Toyota has built and sold well over ten million Land Cruisers over the past 70 years? It’s a big occasion and the company is celebrating its incredible off-road brand’s success with a series of special events, new model as and programs. Not least of all the local arrival of the all new Land Cruiser 300.
BORN IN AUGUST ‘51
Launched in 70 years ago this month in 1951, Toyota designed its first powerful, four-wheel drive Land Cruiser for military use. Known as BJ, it soon earned an enviable go-anywhere reputation. The first civilian Land Cruiser arrived as a Jeep and Land Rover rival in 1954. The ‘Cruiser brand has since built upon its rugged, reliable, durable off-road core DNA as it has grown significantly to include pick-up, wagon, station wagon and luxury SUV variants.
Toyota has always promised that a Land Cruiser will take people anywhere and everywhere. Today, even models discontinued many moons ago, remain in daily service across the globe. Now as part of its big birthday celebrations, a new Toyota Gazoo programme will soon begin reproducing Heritage Parts parts from engines, to drivelines and exhaust systems, to keep more old ‘Cruisers on — and off — the road. Commencing with parts for the classic 40 Series, from early ’22.
The Land Cruiser brand of course resonates stronger than ever with South African owners. The entire range, from the utility 70 Series to the family-oriented Prado and flagship models, continues to outsell demand, month in and month out in typical Toyota fashion. Prado is another Land Cruiser model that just continues to get better and better and it will benefit a fresh specific update that will add stylish new 19-inch alloys yo premium models, among other niceties by the end of August.
A SPECIAL 70TH BIRTHDAY 70 SERIES
That will be followed by a special 70th birthday Special Edition of the venerable 70 Series. Register for yours now at your nearest Toyota dealer to be sure to snap one of these up then they arrive in the fourth quarter. But the biggest news around this historic celebration of its splendid 70 year history, is that the next chapter in the Land Cruiser story begins right now. The Best ‘Cruiser yet is breaking cover in South Africa, quite literally as we speak.
The all-new Land Cruiser 300 draws inspiration from its forefathers to deliver the highest possible calibre driving experience. And it’s about to hit the road in South Africa, perfectly timed to celebrate that incredible Land Cruiser history. Heralded by months of speculation, concept renderings and spy-shots, first Land Cruiser 300 production models are now ready so thrill their eager new buyers.
All-new from the ground up and based on the first TNGA-F. T ladder frame rendition of Toyota’s New Global Architecture, this latest Master of Africa also comes with a brand new engine line-up. Both the new 305 kW 650 Nm 3.5-litre biturbo V6 and 225 kW 700 Nm 3.3-litre turbodiesel V6 bring vastly improved efficiency, power and torque versus the outgoing V8s. The petrol V6 produces peak torque from 2000 rpm, the diesel from 1600 to 2600 rpm.
POWERFUL NEW TURBO V6S, 10-SPEED AUTOS
Both engines are also mated to a new slick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmissions with low-range functionality. Top speed is pegged at 210 km/h for both engines, while the petrol version consumes 12.1 litres per 100 km while emitting 291 grams per kilometre of carbon dioxide. And the diesel a most frugal 8.9 l/100 km at 238 g/km CO2.
Unmistakably angular, but still dramatically different, 300 boasts a far more dynamic presence. With a just a passing resemblance the much-loved 1990s 80-series. To keep that classic two-box look in tune with its splendid ancestry. A prominent grille and sculpted rectangular headlamps blend seamlessly into under a signature Land Cruiser channel bonnet, while large trapezoidal taillights are complemented by bold Land Cruiser lettering and that Toyota badge at the back.
300 also introduces three all-new ‘Cruiser model grades. Each highlights utility, sportiness or Luxury. The GX-R is the utility-focussed entry point to the range, but that does not man it skimps in any way. Packing LED daylight-running headlamps, keyless entry with auto-door-lock, park distance control, an electric parking brake, there’s also rear zone climate control, a power driver’s seat, multiple power outlets with charging port.
CRUISER 300 IS LUXURY PACKED
‘Cruiser 300 GX-R packs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Multi-Information Display with Tracks 4 Africa Navigation, Crawl Control and Drive Mode Select, park distance control and an electric parking brake. It comes in the choice of black or neutral beige cabin trim. And a broad choice of colours including glacier, pearl or classic white, raven or attitude black, satin silver, graphite grey or ruby metallic, avant-garde bronze or moonlight ocean.
Next up, the all-new GR Sport is the Land Cruiser 300 off-road performance model. It expands the Gazoo Racing brand into Land Cruiser territory for the first time. GR-S gets bespoke styling and the choice of black or black and dark red combo cabin trim, rugged 18″ alloy wheels and an off-road spec list. 300 GR-S has a 12.3” screen Multi-Terrain Monitor with Panoramic View, JBL 14-speaker DVD playback audio, a wireless charger and tyre pressure monitoring.
Add a heated wood accented steering wheel and heated and ventilated first and second, and power-down third-row seats. And a hands-free power tailgate. GR-S also features Toyota’s E-KDSS system to maximise off-road capability via additional drive mode select modes. There’s also a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system for superior vehicle control. The system links the wheels via hydraulically supported stabiliser bars for excellent articulation and body-roll.
FULL SAFETY SUITE
GR-S also adds the full Toyota Safety Sense suite of autonomous driving active safety aids. That includes lane trace assist and all-speed radar cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure. And rear cross traffic alert with braking and adaptive high beam. That’s of course over and above standard vehicle stability, active traction, hill assist, trailer sway and downhill assist controls. And ABS, EBD and assisted braking.
The Land Cruiser 300 ZX replaces the VX-R as the luxury Land Cruiser in a more image-focused persona. It gets unique 20″ alloys, chrome detailing over and above the already supreme GR-S spec. There’s a choice of black, black and dark red combination or neutral beige luxury cabin trims. ZX also adds a Wi-Fi enabled rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones.
That Toyota Peace of Mind is of course very much part of the all-new Land Cruiser 300 deal. All models are sold with a 9-service or 90 000 km service plan. At yearly or 10 000 km intervals set at 12-months. And 3-year 100 000 km Warranty across the board. Customers can also purchase service, maintenance plan and warranty extensions from their Toyota dealer.
ON SALE IN AUGUST
Petrol Land Cruiser 300 ZX models will go on sale early August. Diesel and GR-S derivatives follow shortly thereafter.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Pricing GX-R 3.3D R1,283M ZX 3.3D R1,765M ZX 3.5T R1,797M GR-S 3.3D R1,811M GR-S 3.5T R1,842M
THE LAND CRUISR LEGACY
