Toyota has revealed its new Land Cruiser to the world, and the manufacturer says it marks a return to the car’s origins – that whole “go anywhere and everywhere and return safely” ethos.
The 250 Series looks sturdy and uncomplicated at first glance, but its interior and exterior styling cues fuse aspects of modern 4x4s with the model’s traditional features.
Many are calling it retro, but if it is, you’d only be looking a few years into the Land Cruiser’s past to spot anything supposedly old-fashioned.
Rather, it has been designed to look capable. The body certainly blocky and rugged, with a rectangular windscreen and an almost flat roof.
The interior is unfussy as well – the dashboard and driver setup are about as far from the broad, touchscreen-heavy setups adorning the insides of many vehicles, 4x4 or otherwise.
There will be various power options available for the 2024 Land Cruiser, with 2.4-litre petrol turbo and 2.8-litre diesel turbo variants confirmed so far for the Middle East.
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Where it all started - a 1951 Jeep BJ. All photos: Toyota archives -
A 1955 Land Cruiser J20 -
A 1961 Land Cruiser J40 -
A 1967 Land Cruiser J55 -
A 1974 Land Cruiser FJ40 -
A 1980 Land Cruiser J60 -
A 1984 Land Cruiser J70 -
A 1984 Land Cruiser J70 pickup -
A 1989 Land Cruiser J80 -
A 1990 Land Cruiser J70 Prado -
A 1996 Land Cruiser J90 Prado -
A 1998 Land Cruiser J100 -
A 1998 Land Cruiser Cygnus -
A 2007 Land Cruiser J200 -
A 2009 Land Cruiser J150 Prado -
A 2014 Land Cruiser J70 -
A J200 takes part in the 2019 Dakar Rally -
A 2020 Land Cruiser J200 -
A 2020 Land Cruiser J200
Toyota says the upgrades will give the latest version “dramatically improved off-road performance”, as well as improved ease of handling and comfort.
Two headlight designs are on offer – circular and a more assertive straight-line option.
The 250 also has a split-rear tailgate, which anyone going into the great outdoors will find a number of uses for, from a cooking space to somewhere to just sit and watch the world go by.
Launched originally as the Toyota BJ on August 1, 1951, the Land Cruiser series is now 72 years old.
It showed its mettle early on by being able to make it farther up Mount Fuji than any previous pretender to the off-road crown.
There is no confirmed Middle East price for the new Land Cruiser yet, but commentators suggest an international starting price of about $55,000. It should be in showrooms in early next year.
