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Toyota landcruiser 70th anniversary

Toyota LandCruiser 70th Anniversary Edition is a Big, Boxy Ode to the Outback Warrior


It’s no secret Aussies love the LandCruiser. With more than 10 million vehicles sold worldwide, including a whopping 1.14 million Down Under, the Toyota 4WD flagship has more than proved itself on the global stage. So when it came time to celebrate 70 years of the iconic road-warrior, Toyota set to work on crafting a new LandCruiser, one designed for the modern age. Where did they start? At the very beginning, proving once and for all, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Toyota landcruiser 70th anniversary 2
Image: Toyota Australia

On Sunday, Toyota unveiled the new LandCruiser 70th Anniversary Edition, a brooding reminder of the all-encompassing vehicle. The platinum anniversary marks the 1951 Japanese debut of the Toyota BJ, which three years later was renamed LandCruiser. Limited to just 600, the new iteration of the LandCruiser 70 Series off-roader sees 320 double cabs, 200 single cabs and 80 wagons produced in French Vanilla, Merlot Red and Sandy Taupe. Best of all, this special edition LandCruiser is being hocked exclusively Down Under.

“The LandCruiser nameplate has earned legendary status in Australia, with a decades-long track record of durability and reliability in the toughest conditions our country has to offer,” Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley said. “The 70th Anniversary special-edition is a tribute to the many LandCruisers that came before it, helping Australians navigate our harsh and rugged environment, whether that’s through the desert, across the mountains or deep in the forest.

Perhaps the most exciting element of the new Anniversary Editions is just how similar they are to the classic LandCruiser of old. The new releases are based on the flagship GXL grade and are offered as a 76 Series wagon and 79 Series single and double cab chassis pick-up. From the moment you gaze upon the black heritage grille complete with big, bold ‘TOYOTA’ lettering, the influence hits home. The vehicle also cops darkened 16-inch alloy wheels and headlamp bezels, while the front foglamps and daytime running lights have been upgraded to LED units. Look closely and you’ll also spy a ‘Heritage’ LandCruiser badge above the front wheelarch, as well as a ’70th Anniversary’ emblem.

Toyota landcruiser 70th anniversary 1
Image: Toyota Australia

Inside, it’s a starkly different story. Where the exterior is an homage to days gone by, the interior features a number of premium options not previously offered on LandCruiser 70 Series. The seats are clad in premium black upholstery, with black leather-accented trim elevating the aesthetic of the steering wheel and gear shifter. Throw in a woodgrain-look trim and instrument panel, silver accents for the air vents and black treatment for the switch trims on the doors, and you’ve got one slick looking farmhand.

But where the LandCruiser has always excelled is in reliability and performance. Needless to say, Toyota has delivered. All the new versions are powered by the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8, producing 151kW/430Nm and teamed to a five-speed manual transmission. It also cops low-range gearing, 3500kg braked towing capacity3, front and rear differential locks, a raised air intake and 130-litre fuel capacity.

“The icing on the cake as we celebrate 70 years of LandCruiser will be the all-new 300 Series that we will launch later this year with the capability, performance and comfort to take Australians further than ever before,” Hanley said.

The new Toyota LandCruiser 70th Anniversary Edition will arrive in dealerships in September 2021 and are priced from $80,050 (single cab), $82,600 (double cab) and $78,500 (wagon).

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