Launched globally in 1984, the 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the oldest new cars available. It’s not ready to retire, it’s extremely popular in markets like Australia, and the proven off-roader will reportedly get mechanical upgrades in the coming months.
No sources cited, Australian publication To drive wrote that the 70-series lineup will grow with the addition of a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine borrowed from the Hilux. The four will be marketed as a more efficient alternative to the 4.5-liter turbodiesel V8 that has powered the 70 Series since 2007, but the two engines will be sold side-by-side; the eight-cylinder will remain in production, Toyota noted.
The output of the four-cylinder has not been confirmed. In the Hilux, it is offered in three states of tune ranging from 201 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque to 221 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the V8 posts figures of 202 and 317, respectively. And the downsizing will reportedly allow Toyota to offer the 70 Series with an automatic transmission for the first time since 1990. The company could also take advantage of the four-cylinder’s smaller footprint to reduce the size of the front track, which grew when the V8 arrived.
Other updates will accompany the mechanical changes, including a new infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Hilux-sourced steering wheel already fitted on some 70-series variants and a handful of visual changes. We’re not expecting an extreme exterior makeover; the case design hasn’t changed much since 1984, and is part of what makes the 70 Series iconic.
Toyota has not commented on the report and has not revealed what’s next for the venerable 70 Series. All we know is that the model will remain for the foreseeable future, the Japanese company said To drive which will continue to offer a V8 engine “for years to come”. If the rumor is correct, we should learn more about the updates Toyota is making to its oldest and toughest SUV in the second half of 2023.
Interestingly, putting a four-cylinder between the Land Cruiser’s fenders will allow Toyota to sell the model in Japan after a long hiatus. Don’t get your hopes up if you live in the US – at the time of writing, there’s no indication we’ll be seeing the 70 series on our shores any time soon.
