Toyota Land Cruiser 70: The hardcore SUV you can’t get in the Middle East – yet

The 250 Series was revealed this week, but the brand also took the covers off another, Japan-only model

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 will only be available in Japan as of now. All photos: Toyota

The 2024 70 on stage at the grand launch

The seating inside the 70

Designed for the wild

The 70 has an elevated ride height for uneven terrain

The 70's interior is functional with a few modern additions

The full Land Cruiser range - the 300, 70 and 250

A 70 prototype gets a sand blasting

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was unveiled this week, marking a return to its past as a rugged car with rough terrain in mind.

This announcement created a stir among those with automotive interests, but it was of particular interest in the UAE. Statistics suggest the world’s biggest car manufacturer sells more Land Cruisers in the Emirates than the rest of the world combined.

However, while the latest version, the 250 Series, will be available across the Middle East and much of the rest of the world, there is another new model that will remain in Japan only – the 70 Series.

Both were announced at the same time, but the latter vehicle attracted considerably less attention because of its limited availability.

Toyota's all-new 2024 Land Cruiser has been revealed. All photos: Toyota

There's no mistaking this for a track-day car

The 2024 model has been entirely modernised

The new Land Cruiser shares its platform with the recently redesigned Lexus GX

Toyota shows its Land Cruisers through the ages at the official launch of the latest model

The driver setup has been designed to be functional and classic

The new Land Cruiser's split tail-gate

Headlights on the new Land Cruiser can be circular...

... or rectangular

The seating arrangement

The car has been given a distinctly muscular look

The inside of the 2024 Land Cruiser is unfussy

While smaller than its siblings, the 70 is being touted as probably the most hardcore Land Cruiser yet.

The new design, which is the first upgrade to the 70 lineage in 15 years, takes inspiration from the car’s classic, straight-edged predecessors from decades ago, when all versions of the vehicle were working tools rather than tarmac trudgers.

The 70 comes with a 2.8-litre diesel turbo engine, geared towards offering the kind of off-road performance only available from high-torque, high-output power plants.

It’s not all bargain-basement basic, though.

There is a 6.7-inch infotainment screen with the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in there. The new gauge cluster sticks to old-school dials, admittedly, but integrates a 4.2-inch digital display for power-train information.

The 70 will be in showrooms on its home turf later this year and will join the already available 300 model. The 250 arrives early next year.

Toyota is remaining coy about whether the 70 will make it into other markets. If you look at the sales figures you’d guess the Middle East would be an obvious first-choice destination if the manufacturer decides the car should go farther afield.

In the meantime, it’s a case of playing the waiting game.