Photo: Toyota
It’s the nameplate that made Toyota synonymous with reliability, and 68 years on, the Land Cruiser has surpassed 10 million units globally. The longest-running nameplate from Toyota also happens to be an extremely capable off-roader with the kind of luxury appointments you’d expect for the princely price of $85,315 excluding destination charge.
J200 is the codename of the current generation, dating back to 2007 and twinned with the Lexus LX 570 luxury SUV. Available solely with a 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the United States, the Land Cruiser develops no fewer than 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, channeled to all the wheels by an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Land Cruiser series started in 1950 with the Korean War and the assistance of the U.S. government, followed by the BJ prototype in January 1951. Regular production started in 1953, and the BJ was available in a number of specifications depending on purpose: BJ-T for touring, BJ-R for radio equipment, and BJ-J as a no-nonsense cowl truck.
Toyota waited until 1954 for technical director Hanji Umehara to coin the Land Cruiser nameplate, taking inspiration from Land Rover in the United Kingdom. The J20 series followed in 1955, and production expanded from Toyota City in Japan to São Bernardo in Brazil.
Fast-forward to the present day, and it’s not exactly surprising that 10 million were made over the course of so many years, giving both Land Rover and Jeep a run for their money. “Going forward, development of the Land Cruiser will take place on the premise that it will continue to be used in every corner of the world,” said Toyota in a statement.
Through official channels, the Land Cruiser appeared in the UK in 1975. European markets helped the 4x4 reach one million sales by 1980, and these days, the Toyota to rule all Toyotas is sold in approximately 170 countries. Annual sales total in the ballpark of 400,000 units.
Reports from Japanese publications such as Best Car suggest the next generation will drop the V8 in favor of a hybridized twin-turbo V6, a switch we wouldn’t be surprised to see given what Ford did to the F-150 Raptor. There’s also talk the F1 body-on-frame architecture of the next Tundra and Tacoma will introduce hybridization to Toyota’s pickup trucks, technology that would trickle down to the Hilux as well at some point.
The Land Cruiser series started in 1950 with the Korean War and the assistance of the U.S. government, followed by the BJ prototype in January 1951. Regular production started in 1953, and the BJ was available in a number of specifications depending on purpose: BJ-T for touring, BJ-R for radio equipment, and BJ-J as a no-nonsense cowl truck.
Toyota waited until 1954 for technical director Hanji Umehara to coin the Land Cruiser nameplate, taking inspiration from Land Rover in the United Kingdom. The J20 series followed in 1955, and production expanded from Toyota City in Japan to São Bernardo in Brazil.
Fast-forward to the present day, and it’s not exactly surprising that 10 million were made over the course of so many years, giving both Land Rover and Jeep a run for their money. “Going forward, development of the Land Cruiser will take place on the premise that it will continue to be used in every corner of the world,” said Toyota in a statement.
Through official channels, the Land Cruiser appeared in the UK in 1975. European markets helped the 4x4 reach one million sales by 1980, and these days, the Toyota to rule all Toyotas is sold in approximately 170 countries. Annual sales total in the ballpark of 400,000 units.
Reports from Japanese publications such as Best Car suggest the next generation will drop the V8 in favor of a hybridized twin-turbo V6, a switch we wouldn’t be surprised to see given what Ford did to the F-150 Raptor. There’s also talk the F1 body-on-frame architecture of the next Tundra and Tacoma will introduce hybridization to Toyota’s pickup trucks, technology that would trickle down to the Hilux as well at some point.
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