Next-gen Land Cruiser headed for SA

Toyota’s redoubtable Land Cruiser will benefit from styling changes throughout. What’s more, those attending the 2013 Johannesburg motor show will be able to experience the new model when it makes its South African debut!

 South African fans of the Land Cruiser will have to wait until October when the new Prado makes its local debut at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show (Jims), to go on sale in November 2013.


Toyota SA’s senior manager of corporate communication, Leo Kok, said: “The new Prado will be revealed at the 2013 Johannesburg motor show and will be on sale early in November. More detail on the South African specification levels will be made public at the show.”

 Though we’ll have to wait until Jims for local engine details, in the UK the Land Cruiser will continue to be powered by a 140kW three-litre turbodiesel driving a five-speed auto. The four-cylinder, quad-valve unit has been revised to meet Euro 5+ emissions standards with no decrease in performance, enabling it to produce 420Nm from 1600-3000rpm. Emissions have been reduced slightly to 209 and 214g/km for the two and four-door models respectively.

The new Land Cruiser has the automaker’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System though it retains its independent double wishbone arrangement at the front and four-link rear set-up with lateral rod. On the standard system, shock-absorber performance has been optimised while KDSS benefits from increased thickness/diameter for several components, including the anti-roll bar to “create smoother vehicle behaviour with revised front-to-rear weight transfer when cornering".

SPRUCED-UP LAND CRUISER:Toyota’s redesigned Land Cruiser will make its debut at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show. Image: Toyota.

Inside, Toyota has upgraded the overall trim and details: “The new 2014 Land Cruiser’s cabin gains new trims and detailing that raise the overall tactile and perceived quality.”

The facia has been redesigned and the centre console now combines controls for its off-road modes. Using the new selector dial, drivers can choose between the five-mode multi-terrain select and crawl control. The selector is flanked by switches for the all-wheel drive and adaptive variable suspension.

The interior benefits from a new colour screen as well and black and wood finishes on the facia, doors, centre console, steering wheel and gear lever.

The seats have also been upgraded with double stitching for cloth and contrast colour-stitching for leather options.

The 4x4 benefits from a blind-spot monitor and the automaker’s 'rear cross-traffic alert' which warns the driver of vehicles not be visible through the rear-view or external mirrors. If any vehicle is detected, the system flashes warning lights in the side mirrors and sounds a buzzer.

Bongo Ride Inc. 2013