What to expect from the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300?

Toyota has long been registered in the top lines among the leading automakers and, apparently, is not going to give up its place in the coming years. Plans for 2020 to sell more than ten million vehicles worldwide. Without slowing down, it has been massively updating its iconic lineup for the third year in a row. First comes the updated Land Cruiser Prado in 2017, then hits follow: Camry, Corolla and RAV4.

And now the turn has come to the legendary Land Cruiser 200, which is expected to be presented at the end of summer already under the code 300. The model has been on the market for more than ten years, is selling steadily and has earned an excellent reputation. Throughout the past year, only fragmentary information and various rumors appeared regarding the possible characteristics of the new Kruzak, which have not been officially confirmed. So what can we expect from the new Toyota Land Cruiser?

Let's try to summarize all the data that is currently available. Most likely, the new Land Cruiser will remain a frame SUV, but the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) global architecture will form the basis.

The new modular platform is lighter than its predecessors while delivering over 60% more body rigidity. This is achieved through the use of high-strength steels in the closed structure of the power frame of the body in combination with lightweight power plants. Initially, the new TNGA platform debuted on the fourth generation Prius and later appeared on the C-HR and Auris models. In 2017, the architecture was applied to large Camry, Lexus IC and Lexus IS models. According to Toyota, this solution will form the basis of half of the manufacturer's models this year. Versatility will reduce the cost of creating new cars by about 40 percent. For the Land Cruiser, the platform is adapted for all-wheel drive and a frame structure.

But the most important thing in TNGA is not even the layout and structural elements, but the power units that form the basis of the car. And this is where the most intrigue lies. The new platform is designed for lighter engines, which means that the old V8 will most likely have to be abandoned. There is hope that it will be modernized and left for a part of the world market where there are no strict restrictions on environmental standards. But most likely the main unit will be a hybrid unit based on a 3.5-liter unit.

Here it is worth mentioning separately that Toyota has achieved very good results in the development of such systems. If many global companies are focused on the final transition to electric powertrains, and hybrids are considered only an intermediate stage, then Toyota sees things very differently. For them, the hybrid is the main driving force behind the development of the company. Already, hybrids account for 63% of Toyota sales in Europe and 96% of Lexus sales. The new Toyota Land Cruiser will not be able to stay away from this global vector of development. The car must be relevant for the coming years and fit into strict emission standards, otherwise some markets will simply be closed for it.

It is to be expected that the Land Cruiser will be equipped with a hybrid installation, which was already presented on the LS 500h. This system allows full and continuous mixing of engine power and electric motor power, and creates an infinite range of gear ratios between the ICE crankshaft and final drive.

Engine capacity – 3456 cubic meters. see, V6, Power – 299 liters. with. Torque – 356 Nm. compression ratio 13.0. The electric motor has a power of 180 liters. with., torque – 300 Nm. The total power of the hybrid installation is 354 hp. with. Perhaps, in the version for the SUV, the characteristics will be increased due to improvements.

This engine has a multi-stage hybrid transmission (Multi Stage Hybrid Transmission). The heart is the planetary gearbox, which connects the power of the internal combustion engine and electrical installation, which is at the same time an electric motor, generator and starter.

There is also a two-stage gearbox, a Torsen limited slip differential and a traditional 4-speed automatic, all in one housing. This system does not have the concept of “idling”, if the engine is running, then it either charges the battery, heats the interior, or the car moves.

It turns out that in the overall system there are both a variator and an automatic machine, complementing each other. This allows the best of both transmissions to be used. The additional gears allow the internal combustion engine and electric motor to work harder at the moment of acceleration, to create the feeling of the usual “gasoline” feeling of the car and level out the feeling of “variable” acceleration. The coordination between the engine speed and the degree of pressure on the gas pedal is more natural. In addition, a manual mode appears, in which the driver can change fixed gears, achieving a better response to his actions. It is possible that for the “300” the transmission will be further reconfigured in order to maintain off-road advantages.

If we talk about design, then there are even more mysteries. Some might say that the Toyota Land Cruiser is an automotive anachronism, a rocky island off the main stream of automotive design evolution. Initially launched in the early 1950s as a naked imitation of a wartime American Jeep, the Land Cruiser has slowly evolved into one of the most respected members of its class. But now that SUVs have become mass-produced vehicles and manufacturers are fiercely competitive in this segment, the former design looks old-fashioned and rather modest. The car needs a new future that is relevant to today and reflects advanced technologies in form.

Older sketches most likely don't show the final look. You can definitely expect that there will be no global changes in the body, the silhouette will be preserved, but they will add masculinity and aggressiveness. The shape will be visually simplified, it fits into the latest Toyota trends.

The grille will have a trapezoidal design similar to new Toyota models. The company admits that it has had a “pretty bland design” in the past, driven by a lot of trade-offs. Now, thanks to a new directive directly from Toyota Motors Corporation President Akio Toyoda, designers are taking a bigger position in the vehicle design process. The new style should inspire confidence and evoke emotions. The company's new concepts already show what Toyota's new style is aiming for.

The cab will be offered with two or three rows of seats. Customers will be offered numerous features, including the latest Toyota Safety Sense technology offered in Crown and Alphard.

What will be the Toyota Land Cruiser 2020 in reality, we will most likely find out closer to the summer, it will not be long to wait.