Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Gets Upgrades For Its 40th Birthday
During the Japan Mobility Show in November last year, Toyota reintroduced the Land Cruiser 70. For the uninitiated, this is a version of the SUV that debuted 40 years ago but is now sold with modern safety systems such as Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control and a more powerful and efficient engine. To celebrate the model’s 40th anniversary and its market launch in Japan, the automaker now introduces a special one-off off-roader based on the Land Cruiser 70.
The information is scarce at the moment but Toyota plans to display the matte black SUV you see depicted in the gallery during the Tokyo Auto Salon next week. It is based on the resurrected 2024 version and features visual and a few small hardware upgrades coming from Toyota Auto Body, a subsidiary of the company focused on developing enhancements for Toyota products. It will be interesting to see whether the tweaks seen on this concept will later become available for customers.
The matte black exterior finish has to be the highlight of this one-off vehicle, though that’s not all. There’s also an additional snorkel, a front bumper with a modified design and a winch support, chrome side mirror caps, a roof rack, and others. Those black wheels with a chrome barrel enhance the off-road look, while the clear lenses for the turn signals remind us it is 2024 now. The production model’s fender-mounted mirror is still present.
There’s no mention of mechanical upgrades under the hood, though. This means power most likely comes from the standard 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine with 201 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The power reaches all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. The one-off model will sit alongside a restored Land Cruiser J40 during the Tokyo Auto Salon, which will open its doors to the public on January 13.
