Now that the Toyota Land Cruiser has been confirmed for a return to the U.S. market, the query is what is going to it appear to be? In its announcement, Toyota tantalizingly teased some classic Land Cruiser badges with deliciously old-school fonts. A brand new report from Australia signifies there could possibly be a purpose for that.
In response to Drive, the U.S.-market Land Cruiser will obtain throwback design cues that attain delve deep into the mannequin’s heritage. Inspiration reportedly comes from the legendary FJ40 constructed from 1960 to 1984, in addition to the wildly in style 70-series that was by no means bought in America.
The report particularly calls out spherical headlights, a flourish that may apparently not make it to different markets around the globe the place Land Cruisers have historically bought effectively. It goes on to say that the Land Cruiser can be positioned as a extra hard-core off-roader to be bought in low volumes as an alternative of a high-end luxurious SUV.
The U.S. market Land Cruiser won’t be based mostly on the 300-series Land Cruiser obtainable in the remainder of the world. What we’re getting is a model of the Land Cruiser Prado, which underpins the Lexus GX. The Prado is bought internationally alongside the upscale 300-series Land Cruiser, however as a extra utilitarian 4×4. Markets like Australia, the place the 70-series continues to be bought new regardless of its introduction in 1985 — a virtually 40-year lifespan — are reportedly getting the Prado with a extra fashionable look.
Toyota is perhaps taking a web page from the playbook of the FJ Cruiser, the retro-styled SUV based mostly on the 4Runner. Launched in 2007, it was immensely in style and nonetheless instructions eye-watering costs within the used car market. Arguably, it has solely turn out to be extra in style since its discontinuation. Its throwback styling was a part of its attraction, and Toyota has most likely been kicking itself for canceling it in 2014 simply as overlanding was taking off.
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