2013 New Land Cruiser DPL: Enhanced on- and off-road driving performance

With over 60 years of heritage and a reputation as one of the world's toughest and most reliable 4x4s, the Toyota Land Cruiser does not compromise in the field of off-road ability.

Unlike rival, monocoque SUVs, much of its legendary off-road toughness may be attributed to the Land Cruiser's robust, highly durable body-on-frame construction, which can withstand the higher forces inherent in harsh off-road use without suffering permanent deformations.

In conjunction with this uniquely rugged construction, the Land Cruiser features a wealth of advanced technologies that improve the vehicle's usability over even the most challenging terrain, assisting the driver and contributing to occupant safety, regardless of driver ability.

A new switch panel offers drivers easier, more intuitive control of the new Land Cruiser's off-road systems, and a new multi-information screen provides significantly enhanced off-road driving assistance.

The new Land Cruiser combines even greater off-road capability with superior on-road driving pleasure and the highest standards of quality and comfort. Revisions to both the standard suspension and the electronically modulated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) have improved handling stability and ride comfort.

A further significant advantage of the vehicle's ladder frame construction is that it allows noise and vibration from the engine, drivetrain and road to be absorbed directly by the frame, significantly reducing the amount of Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) entering the cabin. To that end, the Land Cruiser's frame-to-body mounts are packed with insulating rubber to absorb NVH and further enhance ride comfort.

The new Land Cruiser is available with a choice of two engines: a 4.0 litre V6 petrol engine or a 3.0 litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel. As a result of various modifications, the 3.0 litre diesel unit now complies with EURO 5+ emissions regulations.

Suspension

The new Land Cruiser benefits from a revised front independent double wishbone and rear four-link with lateral rod suspension. The shock absorber oil seal construction and damping force have been optimised to help ensure reliability whilst improving handling stability and ride comfort.

The new Land Cruiser may also be equipped with an extensively revised electronically modulated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which optimises the effect of the front and rear stabilisers for enhanced performance both on- and off-road.

The front cylinder rod diameter, rear cylinder piston diameter, front stabiliser bar diameter and thickness, front stabiliser bush inner diameter, front lower arm stabiliser bracket thickness and frame KDSS bracket thickness have all been optimised, realising a more gentle vehicle behaviour, revising the front/rear weight transfer whilst cornering, and promoting excellent handling stability and ride comfort.

The new Land Cruiser further benefits from an Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system which allows the driver to fine tune the vehicle's ride characteristics with a choice of 'Normal', 'Comfort' and 'Sport' settings.

Operating in conjunction with AVS, an electronically modulated rear air suspension features five control modes —including an Auto Levelling function and a switchable Height Control function- to maintain optimum control of the rear four-link with lateral rod suspension regardless of occupant numbers or payload.

Off-Road Performance

Off road, KDSS virtually disconnects both front and rear stabiliser bars, further enhancing the Land Cruiser's outstanding wheel articulation to ensure ground contact for all tyres over even the most severe terrain. And both AVS and the electronically modulated rear air suspension systems feature bespoke, off-road settings to maximise the vehicle's all-terrain abilities.

The Land Cruiser's proven, permanent four-wheel drive, two-motor transfer system employs a Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) in the centre differential. It is capable of automatically varying torque distribution between the front and rear wheels from 50:50 to approximately 30:70, in order to provide optimum torque distribution for any given scenario. In addition, the rear differential may be locked to maximise the vehicle's off-road capabilities.

Further enhancing the Land Cruiser's permanent four-wheel drive technology, an Active Traction Control system (A-TRC) uses both brake and engine control to distribute torque appropriately to all four wheels.

Available on all models with five-speed automatic transmission a Multi-terrain Select system (MTS) offers drivers a choice of five terrain modes: Mud & Sand, Loose Rock, Mogul, Rock and Dirt & Rock. The system automatically modifies the vehicle's throttle, braking and traction control systems to suit the off-road conditions, providing the driver with optimum traction and vehicle control for any given scenario.

Offering a choice of five speed settings, Crawl Control automatically controls the engine and brakes to maintain a set vehicle speed, helping the driver slowly descent or ascend slopes at a walking pace, or free the vehicle when stuck, without the need to touch the pedals.

Off-Road Driver Assistance

Both control of these diverse systems and monitoring of the vehicle's off-road performance have been made easier, faster and more comprehensive by the installation of a new centre console control panel and the addition of a new multi-information screen.

Central to the new panel, a switchable dial offers control of both the Multi-terrain Select system and Crawl Control speed adjustment. The panel further incorporates 4WD, AVS, MTS and Crawl Control, and centre and rear differential locking switches, offering drivers complete control of all the Land Cruiser's off-road systems via one intuitive, simple-to-operate panel.

Located between the new Optitron meters in the driver's instrument binnacle, a new 4.2" colour Thin Film Transistor (TFT) multi-information display operates in conjunction with the steering wheel-mounted multi-information switch to provide the driver with a comprehensive range of vehicle information. This includes MTS mode and prompting, vehicle suspension height and off-road system operation in real time.

Enhanced off-road driving assistance is provided by the addition of new angle gauge, traction control operation at each wheel and differential lock operation screens. Information regarding individual wheel traction control, steering angle and differential lock operation can now be displayed simultaneously, significantly enhancing driver assistance during challenging off-road conditions.

When MTS begins operation, a Multi-terrain Monitor will automatically display the view ahead of the vehicle on the 7" centre console display screen. Using front, front and rear side, and rear cameras, the system features a versatile display mode capable of showing either independent or combined, front, side and rear views.

The Multi-terrain Monitor also displays a comprehensive range of additional information, including the view range of the cameras, the locations of obstacles detected by the clearance sonar, steering linked guide lines which predict the path of the front tyres, vehicle width and length parallel lines, and the position of the front and rear tyre contact patches.

Engines and Transmissions¹

5-door versions of the new Toyota Land Cruiser are available with a choice of two engines: a 4.0 litre V6 petrol engine or a 3.0 litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel. All 3-door versions are equipped with the 3.0 litre turbodiesel.

The petrol V6 is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, whilst the diesel unit may be equipped with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.

The 2,982 cc, 16 valve, DOHC four-cylinder common rail turbodiesel is renowned for its strong, instantaneous delivery of the low-end torque essential for off-road driving performance. The unit has now been upgraded to make it Euro 5+ compliant.

The engine develops 140 kW / 190 DIN hp at 3,400 rpm and 420 Nm of torque from 1,600 to 3,000 rpm. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, it will accelerate the new 3-door Land Cruiser from 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds (10.6 with manual transmission) and on to a top speed of 175 km/h. CO₂ emissions are 209 g/km (214 M/T), and the turbodiesel returns 7.9 l/100 km (8.1 M/T) in the combined cycle.

The new 5-door Land Cruiser will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 11.0 seconds (11.4 M/T) and on to a top speed of 175 km/h. CO₂ emissions are 213 g/km (217 M/T), and combined fuel consumption 8.1 l/100 km (8.2 M/T).

The petrol engine is a lightweight, 3,956 cc, 24 valve, chain-driven DOHC, direct injection V6 with Dual VVT-i. It develops 207 kW / 282 DIN hp at 5,600 rpm and 385 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm, offering 0-100 km/h acceleration in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. It generates CO₂ emissions of 256 g/km, and the V6 returns 10.8 l/100 km in the combined cycle.

Safety

The new Land Cruiser is equipped with one of the most comprehensive, technically advanced ranges of active and passive, on- and off-road safety features ever launched by Toyota.

In addition to a sophisticated Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) system that can help reduce collision damage and injury, it features the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems on the market today: ABS, complete with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system.

Moreover, the Land Cruiser is equipped with several brake control systems specifically tailored to enhancing its off-road performance and ease of use in even the most taxing terrain: Hill-start Assist Control and Down-hill Assist Control, a Multi-terrain ABS function and Active Traction Control (A-TRC).

Both safety and driver convenience are further enhanced by the availability of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Back and Clearance sonar, a Tyre Pressure Warning system, Trailer Sway Control, a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and a new Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system.

The RCTA system employs the BSM radar to alert the driver backing out of a parking space to approaching vehicles which may not be visible in either the rear view monitor or door mirrors. When approaching vehicles are detected, the system flashes the indicator lights on the door mirrors and also sounds a warning buzzer.

^₁ All fuel consumption and emissions data should be taken as indicative, subject to final homologation