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Toyota will reportedly break with greater than 70 years of custom by producing two new LandCruiser-badged fashions – a dual-cab ute and an SUV – primarily based on a monocoque platform quite than a ladder body like each Toyota off-roader because the authentic ‘Toyota Jeep BJ’ of 1953.
In response to Japanese publication Greatest Automobile, the primary LandCruiser fashions to not make use of rugged body-on-frame building will as a substitute be underpinned by a car-style unibody structure – and provided with hybrid or all-electric powertrains.
Though there’s no affirmation from Toyota, Greatest Automobile says the Japanese big’s two new electrified off-roaders will probably be manufacturing variations of the EPU dual-cab pickup and LandCruiser se SUV idea vehicles revealed on the 2023 Tokyo motor present.
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Each the EPU and LandCruiser se ideas have been purely battery-powered, however Greatest Automobile says petrol-electric hybrid powertrains are additionally potential for his or her showroom iterations.
The SUV will reportedly be launched in 2028 with the ‘LandCruiser Sport’ nameplate, however no timing was supplied for the dual-cab ute, which might theoretically be a rival for car-based compact ‘way of life’ dual-cabs just like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, neither of which is offered in Australia.
Nevertheless, again in March 2025, Toyota teased manufacturing variations of each the EPU and LandCruiser se, and stated each electrical automobiles (EVs) would go on sale by 2026 – not less than in Europe.
After which in Could 2025, Toyota USA chief working officer Mark Templin confirmed the Japanese automaker was “taking a look at” introducing a smaller pickup to fit beneath the model’s Tacoma, which North American markets get as a substitute of the HiLux.
In contrast to Toyota’s current LandCruiser 70 Collection and HiLux ute fashions – and nearly all of their rivals – the Toyota EPU idea featured an built-in (quite than separate) rear tray, like nearly all Holden Utes till they have been axed in 2017.
Meantime, Greatest Automobile suggests the brand new ‘LandCruiser Sport’ SUV will supply as much as three rows of seats, given the LandCruiser se idea was even bigger than Toyota’s current 300 Collection flagship.
Toyota has lengthy promised a hybrid model of each non-GR mannequin in its vary, and the primary petrol-electric LandCruiser would be the 300 Collection Hybrid in 2026, borrowing its V6-based hybrid powertrain from the full-size Tundra pickup.
Nevertheless, electrification for the LandCruiser Prado 250 Collection launched final yr is to date restricted to a mild-hybrid 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the HiLux, and electrical help for the venerable 70 Collection appears even additional off – if ever.
Going one step additional than hybrid energy, Toyota Australia confirmed eager curiosity within the all-electric EPU and LandCruiser se ideas after they have been revealed in Japan two years in the past.
“What that is providing you with a pointer to is that we’re prepared. We’re ready. And if these vehicles come into manufacturing, I can guarantee you Australia, significantly LandCruiser, could be the primary one [to get them],” Toyota Australia gross sales, advertising and marketing and franchise operations vp Sean Hanley advised media on the 2023 Tokyo present.
“LandCruiser is Toyota’s iconic off-road nameplate with greater than 10 million gross sales globally.
“Due to this fact, it’s essential that this automobile will get an electrical possibility and right now we’re seeing a glimpse of what the primary electrical LandCruiser may actually seem like.”
MORE: Discover the Toyota LandCruiser showroom
