One of the most iconic and legendary Toyota nameplates will soon receive a few trick enhancements to stay memorable and competitive in a crowded segment. The Land Cruiser, now 60 years old, has gone through many iterations but its off road prowess never left and it looks like it never will. For the 2013 model year, the SUV will continue on as a 10th generation 200 Series body-on-frame truck that debuted in 2007 but there will be enough exterior and interior changes to tell a difference. It may now be full of luxury and comfort, but at its core the Land Cruiser is still as competent as it was half a century ago.
The biggest changes for the upcoming 2013 model year can be seen on the outside. The front grille has been enhanced ever so slightly to flaunt a bolder, more muscular face. The jeweled headlamps will feature LED accents and HID low-beams add to give the Land Cruiser a much more polished look. Extra chrome finds itself alongside the tall body and redone side view mirrors and tail lamps help draw attention to wider fender flares. Everything is very subtle which meshes perfectly with the vehicle’s purpose, personality and theme which Toyota calls “Advanced and Rugged.” It may look classy, but underneath items such as full-length skid plates tell a different story. An independent front suspension using gas-pressure shocks and coil springs and solid axle rear suspended by coil springs means that this is a truck. Both ends are enhanced by Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that uses hydraulic pressure to regulate the stabilizer bars’ stiffness. In offroad situations, pressure will release to allow for massive articulation between the left and right wheels. On the street, the bars stiffen up to sharpen the tall SUV’s cornering.
A Land Cruiser wouldn’t be a Land Cruiser without full-time four wheel drive. Featuring a TORSEN limited slip differential, Multi-terrain Select traction control, a 2.618:1 low range with five speed settings and 30 degrees of approach angle in the front, the Toyota is still one tough off-road machine. Items such as Downhill Assist Control and low-range CRAWL Control make sure that excitement can still be had at 3 mph. If the muck becomes too tough for crawling, Toyota’s 5.7 liter iForce V8 and six speed automatic transmission can give you the momentum needed to give the Land Cruiser a proper mud bath. The double overhead cam design with variable valve timing pumps out a solid 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque all while being Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV)-II certified.
The 2013 enhancements don’t stop on the outside as the interior has received special treatment as well. Perforated leather trim, higher gloss wood grain, brighter instrument panels, chrome plated air registers and revised lighting give the inside a classic and cool atmosphere. Ventilated front seats keep the truck up with the luxury times while a new Multi-terrain display ensures that a Land Cruiser driver knows exactly how sideways they really are. Front, rear and side monitors mean that there no longer is a reason to stick your head out of window to spot obstacles and easy-access third row seats mean that the entire family can traverse a mountain. And all of this will soon come standard as for 2013, there is just one trim: loaded. The rear seat entertainment system, rain-sensing wiper blades, center console cooler box, headlamp cleaners, leather-trimed steering wheel, multi-info display, bluetooth and voice recognition, and heated second row seats will no longer be added options but instead, standard equipment. Even Toyota’s Entune multi-media system and JBL sourced stereo are no cost features.
Full pricing details will be revealed closer to release time. Expect to find the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser on showroom floors late 2012. Then make sure to find in covered with mud in the local mall parking lot.
Source: Toyota
