Big, luxury 4x4 and compact urban variant will expand line-up and take on Defender
FELIX PAGE
Toyota is preparing to expand and electrify the Land Cruiser line-up over the coming years, introducing an affordable, urban-focused derivative and a range-topping luxury model, to establish the name as a brand in its own right.
The new electric derivatives will follow the new ‘core’ Land Cruiser. That model arrives later this year with pure-diesel and mild-hybrid engine options and it is likely to be the final combustion-powered version of Toyota’s venerable offroader, launched in 1951.
Positioned either side of this new ‘J250’ model in marketing terms, the two new electric Land Cruisers will broaden the model line’s appeal by taking it into both more affordable and more luxurious territory, respectively.
Hinting at the rationale behind this new expanded line-up, Toyota’s chief branding officer, Simon Humphries, said the company is “exploring new approaches to mobility that not only enhance the Land Cruiser experience but also further people’s freedom in motion”.
Humphries added: “Our customers trust in us to keep Land Cruiser relevant and thriving toward the future.”
COMPACT CRUISER
Previewed as a concept but looking nearly production ready, the Compact Cruiser is a squat, rugged family SUV that attempts to offer the spirit of the Land Cruiser in a smaller, more affordable guise. Toyota said the concept was designed to “show how the ‘Cruiser’ moniker can adapt to an all-electric and ultramodern environment”, with a focus on young city buyers “who enjoy active outdoor leisure interests”.
Humphries said Toyota is evaluating how to make the Land Cruiser line-up “more affordable” and “within reach of even more people around the world” as it electrifies.
The new compact model will serve as a more style-focused, utilitarian alternative to the similarly sized bZ4X, no doubt commanding a small premium to take it into contention with more premium-oriented rivals like the upcoming ‘baby’ Land Rover Defender and Mercedes’ ‘little’ G-Class (see right).
It was designed at Toyota’s ED2 development centre in Nice, France – notably by the same team responsible for the radically styled Aygo X and C-HR Prologue concepts. Those two concepts evolved into near-identical production cars, suggesting the showroom version of the C
