Toyota exec says ‘seemingly sure’ to Land Cruiser return

We’re undecided the tease is best than nothing, however right here we go. Motor Pattern requested Jack Hollis, EVP of gross sales for Toyota North America, in regards to the probabilities of the Toyota Land Cruiser coming again to the land of baseball and apple pie. Hollis informed MT, “Will we ever? I’d say seemingly sure,” including, “Have I seen designs, ideas, and hopes, sure. However nothing to announce. It is nonetheless a methods off.”

This has been Toyota’s stance for a couple of 12 months now. In January, on the new Lexus LX 600 media drive, an automaker spokesperson informed CarBuzz, “Do not be so fast to rule out the Land Cruiser. We clearly have not made any bulletins but [regarding Land Cruiser], however we’re listening strongly to buyer suggestions.”

As a Land Cruiser proprietor myself, I am at all times in favor of extra Land Cruiser. Nevertheless, it is not clear how Toyota may convey over the brand new 300 Sequence — or any trendy Land Cruiser — with out working into the problems that obtained the 200 Sequence run in a foreign country. Present overlanding tendencies however, hardly any full-size SUV homeowners take their SUVs as far afield because the Land Cruiser is constructed to go. With higher midsize competitors just like the Kia Telluride, a seemingly unstoppable gross sales monster, going for $59,000 loaded to its roof rails, about the identical as a loaded Ford Explorer Timberline, the previous Land Cruiser’s $87,000 base value put it too near the sister Lexus LX and a trio of unstoppable gross sales monsters within the GMC full-size SUVs. We do not see how there is a enterprise case for the present Land Cruiser to return again in its present kind.

Even Motor Pattern says, “It seems like we ought to be wanting past the present J300 collection Land Cruiser to regardless of the subsequent technology mannequin might appear to be, which is able to nearly definitely must be electrified, both hybrid or full battery-electric.” Which is ok, and makes extra sense. For now, the Toyota 4Runnner TRD Professional begins at $54,000, and the LX 600 begins at $90,000. Is there room in there for a Land Cruiser that brings again the outdated days — smaller, easier, body-on-frame, with two doorways or 4, and indestructible? That is a tough ask. The 4Runner continues to be holding its personal on the gross sales chart regardless of its compromises. Plus, that MSRP window would put a base Land Cruiser on the high finish of the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, right into a value section the place patrons need comfort options greater than the go-anywhere chops the Land Cruiser makes its identify with. Possibly the following technology will discover a technique to make it occur.

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