FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANMISSION FOR NEW 70-SERIES LANDCRUISER

Whenever you travel around the great Aussie bush every second vehicle seems to be a Toyota 70-Series LandCruiser. Some in much loved condition, others that have led a rough life – but all are still going strong and hard, even with too little maintenance. One reason for its popularity is that it has been developed specifically for the Australian environment, with a tough ladder-frame chassis, live-axles, impressive ground clearance, part-time 4×4, powerful yet efficient engine, excellent load-carrying capacity and long touring range. Until now all 70-Series variants have been powered… Read more

TOYOTA CRUISER: NO SINKING FEELING . . . YET

The Toyota LandCruiser dates back to the days when such vehicles were called wagons – none of this sports utility vehicle nonsense. Unfortunately, they behaved as though they, at worst, had wooden wheels with iron rims; at best, solid rubber tyres. One such ‘wagon’ was the LandCruiser, which made Aussie landfall in the 1950s on the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme. It has not looked back. The latest LandCruiser 300 came to market two years ago, with Toyota at pains to supply the vehicle with a stack of the latest automotive… Read more

UPGRADE COMING FOR TOYOTA LANDCRUISER WORKHORSE

Toyota has taken the wraps off a significantly upgraded LandCruiser 70 Series utility that will be offered with a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine mated to a six- speed automatic transmission for the first time when it arrives in Australia later this year. In addition to the new powertrain, the upgraded 70 Series brings styling changes together with increases in safety technology, comfort and convenience features, and an upgraded multimedia system. The new powertrain will be available across the range that includes four body styles and three grades, and will join the… Read more

NEW PRADO HIDES A 300 SERIES

What came first the chicken or the egg, or in this case the Toyota Prado or Hyundai Santa Fe? Just like the Santa Fe that we previewed a few weeks ago, the all-new LandCruiser Prado has adopted a tougher, more utilitarian look. Due to arrive in Australian showrooms towards the middle of next year, it benefits from significant mechanical upgrades, enhanced performance and rugged styling changes. Since its arrival in 1996, Prado has been one of Australia’s most popular large SUVs thanks to its blend of capability, amenity and comfort…. Read more

ALL-NEW LEXUS GX MAKES WORLD PREMIERE

Although it’s been around for more than 20 years in overseas markets the Lexus GX has yet to be sold in Australia, due to a right-hand drive version being unavailable. Although Lexus Australia has yet to confirm whether the just-launched third-generation version will come here it seems likely that it will. Based on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, the GX is a seven-seat off-road vehicle that sits between the RX and LX in the Lexus SUV line-up. Styling is similar to the LandCruiser 300 Series but with a frameless version of… Read more

BIG ‘CRUISER UTE IS BUILT FOR PURPOSE

If you want a definition of the term `workhorse’ look no further than Toyota’s 70-Series LandCruiser. Whether it’s carrying miners or carting hay bales in every dairy farm in Australia, the 70-Series is a hard-working 4×4 – certainly not an SUV – that earns its keep day-in day-out, year-in, year-out. All variants are powered, and we mean powered, by a 4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel engine. The latest, LC79, version of the 70-Series comes with four body styles: Wagon, Troop Carrier, plus two- and five-seat Cab-Chassis. Each comes in WorkMate or… Read more

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 300 SERIES

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 is the replacement for the 200 Series which had been around for many years, over several generations in Australia. Toyota says that it has so many improvements over its predecessors that it deserved the new title of 300. Despite being available since mid-2021 new Toyota LandCruiser 300s are still relatively rare on our roads largely because of supply issues. Many enthusiasts who were aware of the arrival of the LC300 got in early and put down deposits to avoid delivery delays. Toyota lists the driveway price… Read more