The all new Land Cruiser 200 from Toyota comes to South Africa just weeks after its international debut at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October.

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Improving on its renowned predecessor in every aspect, the new SUV is more stylish, more spacious, more comfortable, and packed with electronic aids, drawing on every aspect of Toyota’s store of 4X4 knowledge accumulated over nearly 60 years of Land Cruiser evolution from a basic 4X4 utility to a premium class luxury SUV.

The new flagship SUV embodies the go anywhere capability of the very first Land Cruiser and combines this with the latest in engine and safety technologies as well as the comfort levels of a luxury sedan. This new model, powered by the latest technology twin-turbo V8 diesel engine, is a leap forward from the Land Cruiser 100 model that it replaces.

New look

While the Land Cruiser 200 is instantly recognisable, with strong styling cues carried over from its predecessor, it has a fresh new appearance based on Toyota’s brand design philosophy of ‘Vibrant Clarity’. Working around the themes of “adventurous, prestigious, and trustful 4X4” the design team set about formulating the exterior design.

Working within these design parameters the target was a vehicle that wouldn't be much bigger in size but would offer improved interior space efficiencies and higher levels of comfort and convenience. Just 60mm longer and 30mm wider than the previous model, the new Land Cruiser 200 offers an extra 130mm of interior length.

This increase in interior length has been used to increase the couple distance (the hip point to hip point measurement) in both the first row to second row couple distance (up by 35mm) and the distance between the second and third rows of seats which is increased by 45mm. Cargo space is also increased with an extra 50mm of length available behind the third row of seats.

A contributing factor for the extra internal space was the standardisation on a compact V8 engine design for both the petrol and diesel derivatives. This allowed a shorter engine bay and a more forward position for the firewall. A more forward position for the ‘A’ pillar was also arrived at as well as a shorter bonnet line. These last elements providing a secondary benefit of improved forward vision.

In translating the vision of a rugged image the designers enhanced and enlarged the front and rear fender overhangs. They added a prominent grille and flowed the bonnet design around the top edge of the grille and the headlights. The belt line was raised relative to the earlier model for a more contemporary look without any compromise to driver and passenger visibility.

The Land Cruiser 200’s exterior cues include strong character lines, especially at the front and in the area around the rear door and door handles. A body colour rear spoiler adds a styling accent to the roof line and assists in cleaning up the airflow over the vehicle. Transparent-lens, multi-reflector, dual pocket headlamps and LED tail lamps accent the four corners.

The styling is functional as well: the co-efficient of drag is down from 0,39 for the older model to 0,35 for the new. And in terms of off-road performance, the approach angle is 30 degrees, departure angle 20 degrees, and ramp-over angle 25 degrees.

Power, economy and torque

The twin-turbo V8 diesel engine under the hood boasts 615Nm of torque at between 1800 and 2200rpm, with maximum power of 173kW at 3200rpm — figures achieved while using about the same amount of fuel as a three litre turbo diesel engine and with noise levels as low as an equivalent petrol engine, Toyota reckons.

The 4.5-litre 1VD-FTV optimises Toyota’s latest generation diesel engine technology in its quad cam, 32-valve V8 form with high pressure common rail injection system and intercooled twin-turbochargers. It has a compression ratio of 16.8:1, relatively low for a compression ignition engine.

The diesel lump is matched to a new six-speed Super ECT (Electronic Control Transmission) automatic transmission which offers an improvement in power delivery and fuel efficiency across the full range of driving conditions. It is lightweight and compact in design and offers a smooth gearshift and low noise levels.

This transmission incorporates deceleration downshift control to maximise the fuel cut off during deceleration and contribute to enhanced fuel efficiency. The transmission lock-up system operates in both fifth and sixth gears rather than just the highest ratio as is the norm to improve the torque converter efficiency and provide a further boost for fuel efficiency.

AI-Shift control (Artificial Intelligence-Shift control) provides a new element of electronic control by sensing road conditions and the driver’s intentions. Throttle opening and vehicle speed, together with other conditions are monitored continuously and the transmission’s shift characteristics adapted to match.

When the transmission senses an uphill gradient it adopts a shift characteristic that inhibits hunting between ratios during the climb. On a downhill gradient it adapts to provide efficient engine braking. The transmission will also adapt to driving style and implement a shift pattern suited for sporty driving performance when it senses a more aggressive driving style. Sequential-shift control is also available.

The petrol engine derivative of the new Land Cruiser 200 is powered by a development of the proven 4.7-litre 2UZ-FE V8 engine that was introduced in the Land Cruiser 100 Series. In its latest form, with VVT-i, this quad cam 32-valve engine produces 202kW at 5400rpm with maximum torque of 410Nm at 3400rpm. It has a compression ratio of 10:1 and is Euro IV emissions compliant.

Along with the addition of VVT-i to the engine specification comes ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) which acts to improve overall engine performance at high engine speeds with improved torque at low and medium engine speeds. A reduction in cold start emissions is achieved by introducing secondary air through the exhaust ports during cold start-ups to improve the warm up efficiency of the exhaust catalyst.

The 4.7-litre petrol engine is matched to a 5-speed automatic transmission with Super ECT. As with the six-speed transmission fitted to the diesel model, this transmission has advanced electronic control and an improved lock-up function. It also features the AI-Shift control. Uphill/downhill shift control is provided as is the ability to adapt to a sporty driving style. Sequential manual shifting is also available.

Both the diesel and petrol models have permanent four-wheel drive through a two-speed transfer case. The shift between high and low ratio is accomplished by a servo-motor mounted on the transfer case in place of the lever type operation used on the Land Cruiser 100 Series.

A Torsen type limited slip centre differential is fitted. The basic torque distribution is 41:59 front:rear for an enhanced initial cornering response and stable acceleration. When accelerating while cornering torque distribution changes to a maximum of 30 percent at the front and 70 percent at the rear to suppress any tendency to understeer. The maximum torque available at the front wheels is limited to 53 percent for optimised overall transmission performance. A centre differential lock can be engaged in very rough terrain.

Revised suspension

Coil springs replace the traditional torsion bar set up for the front suspension of the new Land Cruiser 200. This change contributes to improved comfort and ride characteristics with improved steering feel. With the change to coil springs comes an increase in suspension travel from 200mm to 230mm for improved off-road traction.

At the rear the well proven four-link coil system is retained but this has been further developed with revised suspension geometry for improved ride comfort and handling. Off-road performance is also improved. Rear suspension travel is 240mm.

The new Land Cruiser sees the introduction of KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) which acts to improve both driving safety and comfort to suppress vehicle roll for on-road handling. In off-road driving conditions the system assists in improving wheel articulation for improved traction over rough terrain.

With KDSS the effect of the front and rear stabilisers is continually optimised by an interaction between the two through a hydraulic system. When vehicle roll occurs the hydraulic pressure at the front and rear is equalised and the stabilisers act in a normal manner to suppress the roll action.

When the wheels on one side are raised the hydraulic cylinders on the front and rear suspensions stroke in opposite directions. As a result the stabilisers are freed up allowing for a more level ride and superb stability in off-road driving conditions.

Solid body

Essentially a clean sheet design, this latest top-of-the-range Land Cruiser follows the tried and tested formula of a strong, all steel body mounted on a ladder type frame. This frame has side rails of a larger cross section in width and height for higher strength and rigidity, with high tensile steel providing a lightweight but high strength structure.

A hydro forming process is used for a number of the cross members to optimise the shape and material thickness of these elements to improve torsional rigidity by 40 percent.

The roof section, body side panels and floorpan are made from rust resistant high tensile steel to achieve weight savings in the body structure together with added strength.

Liberal use is made of a foam type insulation material in the body side panels to deaden noise intrusion into the interior. Surface levels between the windscreen glass and the body have been minimised to reduce wind noise and the cowl ahead of the windscreen has been shaped to smooth the flow of air in this area. The position of the windscreen wipers has also been optimised to lower wind resistance and reduce noise. Sound absorbing material is placed throughout the floor and roof area and behind all major trim panels to further dampen noise within the Land Cruiser 200.

Built-in safety

Apart from the energy absorbing structures built into the frame itself, on the interior of the vehicle impact absorbing materials are applied in the areas of the roof headlining and garnishes for the side pillars. Frontal air bags are provided for the driver and front passenger as are knee airbags for both seats. Side airbag protection is provided for the front seats and outer seats in the second row. Curtain shield airbags provide side impact protection for all three rows of seats. Three point seat belts are provided for all seven seats.

The front seat headrests feature Toyota’s WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) active head restraint technology. The active head restraint mechanism detects movement in the seat occupant’s lower back area in the event of a rear-end collision and pushes the headrest upwards to reduce the severity of any impact in the neck area and reduce whiplash injuries.

The 17 inch diameter alloy wheels fitted to the Land Cruiser 200 allow for large brake discs and calipers to be fitted for improved braking with resistance to brake fade. Ventilated discs are fitted front and rear with those at the front 340mm in diameter and at the rear 345mm.

A full suite of electronic driver aids is provided. Amongst these is “Multi-terrain” ABS. In addition to the conventional anti lock-function that prevents the brakes from locking under normal driving conditions, this latest system is able to detect off-road conditions such as loose sand and automatically switches to an optimised setting for the given road conditions.

In addition to the wheel speed sensors that provide the major input for a traditional ABS system, the engine ECU is included in the logic loop of the new system to enhance the accuracy of feedback about the vehicle’s state including rate of acceleration, engine output, and wheel speed. The ABS system uses these inputs to determine the best slip rate to apply to achieve the optimum rate of deceleration. Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EDB) is featured in this system to ensure that the brake force is distributed optimally to all four wheels to ensure the best possible braking performance.

Brake Assist is a further element of the braking system on the Land Cruiser 200. When the Brake Assist system senses an emergency braking situation from the brake pedal action of the driver it will automatically generate a heavier braking force through the system to assist the driver in bringing the vehicle to a stop in the shortest distance possible.

The Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system detects any side slipping of the vehicle and then assists the driver in correcting this. When it detects an anomaly the VSC system automatically controls the engine output and the braking force to each individual wheel to suppress any unstable vehicle behaviour.

A VSC cut out switch is provided to allow the driver to override the system.

The traction control system on the Land Cruiser 200 is an Active TRAC system equipped with a centre differential free mode when L4 is selected for a better driving feel and off-road performance.

Downhill Assist Control (DAC), a feature of the diesel model, assists the driver in maintaining a uniform vehicle speed and preventing the vehicle from running away on a steep downhill gradient. The converse of this is Hill-start Assist Control (HAC). This system prevents the vehicle from sliding back when the driver pulls off on a steep uphill gradient. And Crawl Control (CRAWL), for the petrol engine version, allows the vehicle to maintain a low uniform speed over rough ground by controlling engine throttle inputs (power output) and brake pressure to individual wheels.

The Land Cruiser 200 CRAWL function allows for three distinct speed settings for conditions that range from rocky terrain through loose rubble on a downhill slope to snow and mud or loose gravel. The settings correspond to Lo (1km/h), Mid (3km/h), and Hi (5 km/h).

The Land Cruiser 200 is fitted with a Pre-Crash safety system for the front seatbelts. This system is interlocked with the braking system and the Vehicle Stability Control. When the VSC senses that the vehicle is approaching a spin or when a severe oversteer condition is sensed or when there is a severe brake application, the VSC CPU sends a signal to the Pre-Crash system that causes the driver and front passenger seatbelts to be automatically tightened to limit injuries on impact by applying a higher degree of restraint through the seatbelts.