The new Land Cruiser “250” Series has officially been presented to the world by Toyota Motor Corporation.
The Land Cruiser series, which debuted as the Toyota BJ on August 1, 1951, is now 72 years old. It was the first vehicle to reach Mount Fuji’s sixth station immediately after launch. Since then, it has succeeded in bringing protection and security to a variety of individuals in locations that can only be accessible by a Land Cruiser.
n a year that was characterized by the ongoing pandemic and superconductor and component supply issues that led to the delay of some model launches, most manufacturers managed to plan and still execute their new car introductions. This enabled the jurors of the annual ‘Japan Car of the Year’ event to carry out their assessments of over 30 contenders.
In the first of two voting procedures, the award’s 60 jurors selected the ’10 Best vehicles’ of the year in late November. Following this, they then voted a second time to select the year’s best car as well as the winners of 4 special awards. When counting was completed at an online award ceremony on today, it was the Nissan Note e-Power series which was pronounced ‘Japan Car of the Year 2021-2022’.
With 335 votes, the Nissan hatchback beat the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ pair which scored 264 votes, and the Honda Vezel (HR-V) with 227 votes. The new Note e-Power range, with its 1.2-litre hybrid powertrain, is currently on sale in Japan but the carmaker has plans to launch the e-Power drivetrain in European and US markets in the near future.
According to the COTY committee, the Note e-Power’s win was due to its hybrid powertrain, excellent fuel economy and handling, keen pricing and stylish design.
The other finalists finished in the following order:
4th – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (206 votes)
5th – Volkswagen Golf 8 (168 votes)/also Import Car of the Year
6th – Toyota Mirai FCEV (104 votes)
7th – Chevrolet Corvette (81 votes)
8th – Mercedes-Benz C-Class (51 votes)
9th – Toyota Land Cruiser (45 votes)
10th – BMW 4-Series (19 votes)
This year’s title is the fifth one for Nissan while the Volkswagen Golf’s popularity with the Japanese is evident by it collecting another title for the latest generation after the Golf 7 in 2013 (when it was also overall ‘Japan Car of the Year’).
PAST WINNERS
1980-1981: Mazda Familia (323)
1981-1982: Toyota Soarer
1982-1983: Mazda Capella (626)
1983-1984: Honda Civic
1984-1985: Toyota MR2
1985-1986: Honda Accord
1986-1987: Nissan Pulsar
1987-1988: Mitsubishi Galant
1988-1989: Nissan Silvia SX
1989-1990: Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS)
1990-1991: Mitsubishi Galant
1991-1992: Honda Civic
1992-1993: Nissan March
1993-1994: Honda Accord
1994-1995: Mitsubishi FTO
1995-1996: Honda Civic
1996-1997: Mitsubishi Galant
1997-1998: Toyota Prius
1998-1999: Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS250)
1999-2000: Toyota Vitz (Yaris)
2000-2001: Honda Civic
2001-2002: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2002-2003: Honda Accord
2003-2004: Subaru Legacy
2004-2005: Honda Legend
2005-2006: Mazda MX-5
2006-2007: Lexus LS460
2007-2008: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2008-2009: Toyota iQ
2009-2010: Toyota Prius
2010-2011: Honda CR-Z
2011-2012: Nissan LEAF
2012-2013: Mazda CX-5
2013-2014: Volkswagen Golf 7
2014-2015: Mazda2/Demio
2015-2016: Mazda MX5
2016-2017: Subaru Impreza
2017-2018: Volvo XC60
2018-2019: Volvo XC40
2019-2020: Toyota RAV4
2020-2021: Subaru Levorg
Given the price of petrol these days, the biggest SUVs only appeal to customers in places like the Middle East and USA where big engines are still acceptable. So for the all-new Lexus LX 600, the Middle East was chosen as the location from which the new flagship of the brand’s SUV range was revealed to the world.
It’s an all-new model but it is also no secret that the LX 600 is a model Lexus shares with Toyota’s latest Land Cruiser. This has been the case since the mid-1990s when the Land Cruiser was first ‘Lexified’ to enable Lexus to quickly have a fully-fledged SUV (before they came out with the game-changing RX in 1997).
New GA-F platform shared with Toyota Land Cruiser
Like the Land Cruiser, the LX has been developed on core attributes such as reliability, durability, and rough-road driving performance. The fourth generation continues with a body-on-frame construction and rides on the new GA-F platform which is 20% more rigid. Thanks to the new structure and weight-saving approaches like aluminium doors, the new LX 600 is 200 kgs lighter than its predecessor. This has helped to improve driving dynamics, with predictability and balance during turning, acceleration and deceleration maneuvers, as well as improved stability when driving off-road.
Lexus Driving Signature
Though much will be the same as the Land Cruiser, Lexus engineers have always contended that a Lexus will have a difference in dynamics and other aspects. In this case, the engineers have made sure that the new LX 600 has the Lexus Driving Signature.
The suspension is classic SUV with front high-mounted double wishbones that are fitted with dampers having 100 mm of bound and 145 mm of rebound, important factors for off-road driving performance. At the rear is a 4-link axle-type suspension with rear lateral control arms carried over from the previous model.
The rear shock absorbers are placed outside of the lower control arm, and the shock absorber mounting angle has been adjusted to match the angle at which the axle moves. This makes it easier for the shock absorbers to follow the vertical movement of the wheels, increasing their damping effect and, thus, better absorbing shocks and vibrations from the road surface to provide very good vehicle stability.
To have capable off-road performance as well as the sort of comfort Lexus owners expect, a lot of work went into the suspension with the inclusion of variable ride height and adding a spring rate switching device for front and rear wheels. The ride height can be automatically adjusted or manual selected and not only adjusts the vehicle height but also responds to changes in vehicle posture to enhance stability.
The springs are softened to help provide a comfortable ride when overcoming bumps during in-town driving and are stiffened to help ensure a flat and stable ride when going around curves. When at a total standstill, the suspension automatically lowers for easier passenger entry or exit.
The power steering is assisted by an electric motor while the Electronically Controlled Brake system employs a sensor to detect the degree of brake pedal depression and creates braking force with the hydraulic brakes for more linear braking characteristics.
3.5 litre V6 in place of 5.7-litre V8
The new LX 600 will be offered with a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine which replaces the naturally aspirated 5.7-litre V8 used before. Though having smaller displacement, its output is higher with turbocharging, with 415 ps/650 Nm. This goes through a 10-speed direct-shift automatic transmission with a transfer case for high and low ranges, the latter for off-road use. Having 10 ratios means that performance can be optimized when starting as well as when cruising at higher speeds. The wide spread also allows for smoother transitions between gears.
Exclusive to F SPORT, a Torsen LSD is employed to help ensure traction performance of the rear tyres. When accelerating during a turn, it optimally distributes the driving force according to the load on the rear left and right wheels to achieve a high level of control performance. In straight-line driving, it responds to changes in road conditions, contributing to stability.
Ultra Luxury 4-seater version
Like the LM 350 MPV, the new LX 600 also has a version with just 2 seats for the rear section of the spacious cabin that normally has 3 rows of seats for 7 persons. Available in the Ultra Luxury grade, it offers rear occupants up to 1.1 metres of maximum leg space. The seats have exclusive curved headrests, seatbacks and cushions that gently wrap around the head, hips and lower body. They should offer the ultimate in seating comfort as they are said to be crafted to help offset any lateral G-forces and shocks from irregular road surfaces – even in off-road driving conditions.
At the front is the North American-developed Lexus Interface multimedia system. This has a 12.3-inch upper touchscreen with a 7-inch lower touchscreen. The screen’s new Human Machine Interface (HMI) enhances user interaction through sight, touch and voice, while balancing accessibility needs.
Lexus Interface incorporates a new Voice Assistant developed with a human-centered approach. The Voice Assistant is intended to be the primary way the occupants interact with the new multimedia system. Designed with dual microphones with speaker location capability and enhanced noise-cancellation, the system enables a voice-first approach allowing front seat occupants an expanded and interactive experience to access navigation, media, phone and other vehicle control settings.
When off-road, the driver has the Multi-Terrain Monitor to see around the vehicle. Four cameras capture images to allow the driver to check road conditions, which are often in the blind spots. By switching to the Back Underfloor View, images of the foreground taken in advance are provided to the driver as transparent-underfloor images. By superimposing the vehicle and wheel position over this image, the driver can check underfloor conditions and front-wheel position. In another view, the vehicle is made transparent, and an image showing the area around the rear wheels is magnified. This can enable the driver to ascertain conditions around the rear wheels and estimate distances to obstacles.
Pricing for the new LX 600 is not available yet and deliveries will only begin in the first quarter of 2022. As it has for the past 26 years, the new LX will continue to be a luxurious long-range cruiser with proven off-road capabilities.
The Toyota Land Cruiser has been around for 70 years and approximately 10.4 million units have been sold all over the world. In some markets like Malaysia, it was the first Toyota model to be sold, establishing the brand which would become a household name. In fact, the history of the Land Cruiser symbolizes Toyota’s QDR―Quality, Durability and Reliability
Of the millions that were sold, many are still in service. Being 4×4 vehicles, they have been ideal in less developed regions where the terrain is rough or road conditions are poor. The replacement parts for the older models may not be so easy to find as an industry norm is that original parts are produced for up to 10 years after a model has ended production. After that, there may be some third-party suppliers who will produce parts for the aftermarket business.
For those who own the 40 Series Land Cruiser (produced between 1960 and 1984), there is good news regarding replacement parts. Toyota, through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), will re-produce a selection of parts for the model as part of the GR Heritage Parts Project.
The project is intended to re-produce spare parts that have been discontinued and sell them as genuine parts through a special collaboration with suppliers. This will address a shortage of spare parts that has been evident in recent years and enable Land Cruiser owners to continue to use their vehicles.
TGR has carried out preliminary surveys with exclusive Land Cruiser dealers and fan club representatives from various countries and gained useful insights into what is required. They have learnt that there is demand for parts related to driving, turning, and braking for the 40 Series Land Cruiser. These parts include engines, drivelines, and exhaust systems, which will be supplied as ‘heritage parts’.
Availability of the parts will be announced in the early part of 2022. Additionally, TGR is preparing a questionnaire on its website where customers can submit their parts requests. This feedback will be used in the selection of the parts to be re-produced.
The 40 Series Land Cruiser is the third model for the TGR heritage parts project. The company is already supplying selected heritage parts for the Supra (A70 and A80) and the 2000GT. In addition to the 40 Series, the company is also looking at the possibility of re-producing parts for later generations of the model.
SUVs are the most active and growing segment in the market these days but most of the focus has been on the medium and compact segment although new larger models have also been drawing new customers.
What of the older models… the original SUVs? Their evolution slowed down but there has still been demand due to their proven reputation for toughness and reliability. The Land Cruiser is one of them and over the 70 years it has been around, approximately 10.4 million units have been sold in 170 countries and regions all over the world.
In this 70th anniversary year of the model, Toyota has completely redesigned it by merging technologies accumulated over many years with the latest technologies. The redesigned SUV is designated the 300 Series, replacing the 200 Series that has been in production since 2007. First shipments will start from next month.
It sits on the new lighter GA-F platform based on TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) while keeping the chassis frame structure. The vehicle size is the same as the previous model but there is a kerb weight reduction across the range of more than 100 kgs.
New twin-turbo engines
Newly developed powertrains include a V6 twin-turbo engine (3.5-litres petrol, 3.3-litres diesel). The turbodiesel has V8-beating performance and flexibility, lifting power output by 13.5% (to 309 ps)and torque by 7.7% (to 700 Nm). The petrol engine has an output of 415 ps/650 Nm. Some markets may a non-turbo V6 petrol engine.
A Multi Terrain Select 4×4 system automatically judges the road surface and selects the best driving mode. The twin-turbo engines will have a Direct Shift 10-speed automatic transmission but the non-turbo V6 engine will have a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The suspension layout is essentially the same as before but with Improvements that increase wheel articulation. A world first is the new electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (e-KDSS) that increases off-capability with a larger suspension stroke achieved by effectively disabling the front and rear stabiliser bars.
Toyota Safety Sense
Like all the latest Toyota models, the new Land Cruiser has the Toyota Safety Sense active safety package. The latest version is installed with additional advanced functions. Two functions have been added to the pre-collision system that helps avoid a collision or reduce damage by detecting pedestrians (daytime and nighttime) and cyclists (daytime).
The first is a function that detects oncoming vehicles at intersections and oncoming pedestrians crossing the street when the vehicle is turning in either direction. The second is an emergency steering and crash avoidance function, which assists with steering and lane-keeping and is triggered when the driver performs a steering manoeuvre to avoid a collision.
There is also a new Parking Support Brake which helps prevent accidents by recognizing obstacles in front and back of the vehicle in a parking lot, approaching vehicles when the vehicle is backing, and pedestrians.
Also helping drivers over rough ground is the Multi-Terrain Monitor (shown below) that displays obstacles as viewed from the driver’s viewpoint. It is available when driving at low speeds and enables the driver to check the vehicle surroundings while moving along.
Coming to Malaysia?
The Land Cruiser was the first Toyota model sold in Malaysia, although some may argue that in 1957 when it was delivered to a customer in Tawau, the state of Sabah was not yet part of Malaysia. It impressed with its toughness and reliability and the Land Cruiser, like the Hilux, became synonymous with 4×4 vehicles in East Malaysia.
The Land Cruiser was first assembled locally in Sarawak in the 1970s. Later on, in the 1980s when UMW Toyota Motor took over the franchise, it transferred assembly to ASSB in Shah Alam, Selangor. The Land Cruiser was a popular 4×4 model but as it evolved, it gained more advanced technological features and became more expensive, just like the Mitsubishi Pajero, another popular large 4×4 SUV.
The Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s impacted sales of large 4x4s, especially with increased taxes and after the Land Cruiser Prado, local assembly ended. Though SUVs became increasingly popular, the trend was with the smaller models and with its big engines, the Land Cruiser remained popular in markets like America and the Middle East. However, the IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) program gave birth to the Fortuner which took over the role of the Land Cruiser in many markets, including Malaysia.
As UMW Toyota Motor is bringing in more CBU models from Japan these days, perhaps they might consider importing the new Land Cruiser as well (otherwise the grey importers will). After all, they do offer the Lexus LX, which is adapted from the Land Cruiser.
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