Toyota has revealed the new Land Cruiser 300, stating it is the most technologically-advanced Land Cruiser ever – carrying a suite of the latest tech.
The global launch of the new Land Cruiser 300 will start in the third quarter of 2021, added the company.
The new Land Cruiser 300 evolved from the 200 generation, maintaining the familiar silhouette but adding cutting-edge features.
“As the flagship model of the Land Cruiser series, it has in every generation led the way in vehicle evolution while incorporating the latest technologies,” said the company.
It adopts the “reliability, durability, and off-road performance” principles with which the Land Cruiser range is developed, and creates a “riding experience that enables the driver to drive with ease on any type of road”.
This was accomplished through building it on the new TNGA-F platform, while keeping the previous generation’s frame structure – as this is “the foundation that protects the Land Cruiser’s essence”.
Benefits of the new platform include weight reduction, lowering the center of gravity, allowing space for a new powertrain, and new interior and exterior designs.
A total weight saving of 200kg is achieved over the previous model, and rigorous testing and tuning from Toyota further improved its off-road performance.
According to Toyota, its specialists refined the basic suspension’s performance through decreasing wheel travel instead of shock travel, enhanced road-holding abilities through a new Kinetic Dynamic Suspension setup – which the company claims is the first in the world – and the development of a new multi-terrain drive programme.
Class-leading performance
A new V6 twin-turbo engine is used in the SUV to achieve class-leading driving performance, which Toyota said is superior to a conventional V8 engine.
Customers will have a choice between a 3.5-litre, V6, twin-turbocharged petrol engine – or a 3.3-litre, V6, twin-turbocharged diesel motor.
Both then connect to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The engine’s power outputs are as follows:
- 3.5l Petrol – 305kW/650Nm
- 3.3l Diesel – 227kW/700Nm
The company notes that naturally-aspirated, V6 petrol variants with six-speed manual gearboxes will also be available in certain regions.
New design
The exterior of the new Land Cruiser 300 was developed with a rugged purpose, and the company said the bumper shapes and light placements are designed to receive the least damage during off-road driving.
The same principle carries over to the interior, where a horizontal instrument panel is provided in order to easily show a driver their vehicle’s orientation on any terrain.
Additionally, the interior operating switches were placed around the cabin in intuitive areas, and shapes and colours have been used to improve the operating experience.
“As for the package, placing priority on off-road performance, the vehicle size including the total length, total width, and wheelbase, as well as both the departure and approach angles have been kept the same as the previous model,” said Toyota.
Toyota Safety Sense
The new Land Cruiser 300 also comes with the Toyota Safety Sense package, which includes two additional functions over the outgoing generation.
The first is a system that will detect traffic and pedestrians at intersections, while the second is a new emergency steering and crash-avoidance programme.
Furthermore, it receives a new Parking Support Brake which helps prevent accidents by recognizing obstacles in front and back of the vehicle in a parking lot.
Toyota said it will launch three grades of the new Land Cruiser 300 in South Africa from August 2021:
- Utility-focused GX-R
- Urban-focused ZX
- Off-road-focused GR Sport
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 – Photos
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