Photo: Instagram | kdesignag
Toyota's ultra-rugged Land Series family comprises three members. One of the most sought-after is the J70 Series, but the J250, also known as the Prado, and its larger sibling, the J300, should not be ignored either.
If everything goes as planned, then the Japanese automaker might expand the offering with additional models. And while that may sound like a possible Baby Land Cruiser might be happening, the truth is that it won't, as Toyota does not want to sacrifice the iconic moniker and use it on a unibody vehicle that would be similar in size to the Corolla Cross.
You see, while the Land Cruisers use proper constructions for true off-road prowess, the Corolla Cross is based on the TNGA-C platform, shared with the normal Corolla and its hot hatch sibling that adds the GR suffix, the C-HR, Prius, Lexus UX, and others. Thus, using the Land Cruiser nameplate on something that’s not that potent off the lit path wouldn't make any sense, especially since the auto marque has other monikers worthy of such a ride.
Some might erroneously believe a possible Baby Land Cruiser would be an alternative to the body-on-frame Suzuki Jimny. However, the truth is that it would take on rivals such as the Ford Bronco Sport, and it would be nothing more than a re-bodied Corolla Cross, perhaps with a boxier overall shape to help it stand out more. It would also need a dedicated driving mode for when the terrain becomes slippery or sticky and some other goodies to justify the theoretically higher price tag.
In conclusion, we don't think Toyota would ever use the Land Cruiser moniker on something that wasn't intended to be a real off-roader, and launching a tinier version with different underpinnings wouldn't make much sense from a financial standpoint. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped rendering artists from imagining what such a model might look like, hence the numerous digital illustrations we've seen these past few weeks.
One of the latest that we came across was signed by kdesignag and uploaded on social media a few hours ago. Instead of the Geely Icon, which was previously used as a blank canvas to come up with the unofficial design, the pixel manipulator used the Volkswagen Taigun. The German brand's subcompact crossover is the same car beneath the skin as the Skoda Kamiq and SEAT Arona and comes to life in India.
The differences are obvious, as it has a sharper styling with different front and rear ends inspired by the latest Prado. It also features squared wheel arches of larger proportions and a few other bits and bobs. We certainly wouldn't mind seeing a Baby Land Cruiser with a similar design at the local Toyota dealership, but it would have to be a body-on-frame proposal. On that note, would you buy it? And would you say no to it if it used a unibody construction?
You see, while the Land Cruisers use proper constructions for true off-road prowess, the Corolla Cross is based on the TNGA-C platform, shared with the normal Corolla and its hot hatch sibling that adds the GR suffix, the C-HR, Prius, Lexus UX, and others. Thus, using the Land Cruiser nameplate on something that’s not that potent off the lit path wouldn't make any sense, especially since the auto marque has other monikers worthy of such a ride.
Some might erroneously believe a possible Baby Land Cruiser would be an alternative to the body-on-frame Suzuki Jimny. However, the truth is that it would take on rivals such as the Ford Bronco Sport, and it would be nothing more than a re-bodied Corolla Cross, perhaps with a boxier overall shape to help it stand out more. It would also need a dedicated driving mode for when the terrain becomes slippery or sticky and some other goodies to justify the theoretically higher price tag.
In conclusion, we don't think Toyota would ever use the Land Cruiser moniker on something that wasn't intended to be a real off-roader, and launching a tinier version with different underpinnings wouldn't make much sense from a financial standpoint. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped rendering artists from imagining what such a model might look like, hence the numerous digital illustrations we've seen these past few weeks.
One of the latest that we came across was signed by kdesignag and uploaded on social media a few hours ago. Instead of the Geely Icon, which was previously used as a blank canvas to come up with the unofficial design, the pixel manipulator used the Volkswagen Taigun. The German brand's subcompact crossover is the same car beneath the skin as the Skoda Kamiq and SEAT Arona and comes to life in India.
The differences are obvious, as it has a sharper styling with different front and rear ends inspired by the latest Prado. It also features squared wheel arches of larger proportions and a few other bits and bobs. We certainly wouldn't mind seeing a Baby Land Cruiser with a similar design at the local Toyota dealership, but it would have to be a body-on-frame proposal. On that note, would you buy it? And would you say no to it if it used a unibody construction?
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