98 / 108
9 8
E L E C T R I C A L CO N N E C T I O N
A U T UMN 2 0 16
T
oyota Australia is preparing to introduce a significant
upgrade to its LandCruiser 70 Series range, with a high
level of safety equipment added to bring all variants –
including the single and double cab utes – up to a top-rating
five-star standard.
While the current model manages only three stars under
the Australasian New Car Assessment Program’s (ANCAP’s)
ratings system, the series upgrade due in the second half of
2016 will improve on this with the introduction of electronic
stability control, brake assist and five airbags – two curtain-
shield airbags and a driver’s knee airbag adding to the current
frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger.
Cruise control will also become standard across the 70
Series, which has long been valued by tradesfolk for its
tough character and hard-working nature, particularly its
mechanical reliability and serious towing, load carrying and
off-road performance.
Toyota Australia says the company has worked closely with
employers in the construction industry and other sectors,
including mining and agriculture, in order to develop the
improvements for the “unapologetically rugged vehicle that is
renowned for its heavy-duty capabilities” – and to secure its
future after 30 years on the market.
Further details are still to be released for the upgraded
model, but expect it to continue to have a strong diesel engine
as the backbone of the series.
The current 70 Series uses a 4.5L 32-valve ‘1VD-FTV’
V8 turbo-diesel – with common-rail direct injection and an
intercooler – that delivers 151kW of power at 3,400rpm and
430Nm of torque from 1,200-3,200rpm, the latter said to be the
flattest torque curve among all of Toyota’s engines. It drives
through a five-speed manual gearbox and part-time four-
wheel-drive system.
Braked towing capacity is 3,500kg and gross vehicle mass
3,300kg on the single and double cab utes, with kerb weight
ranging from 2,065kg on the entry level single cab chassis
Workmate to 2,215kg for the top-end double cab chassis GXL.
The current model has four-wheel disc brakes, electronic
traction control and a few cabin mod-cons such as MP3-
compatible stereo and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.
That said, air conditioning is still optional and the 70 Series
remains a hard-edged vehicle at its core, with rigid axle
suspension at both the front and rear, recirculating ball and nut
steering system, manual 4WD hub engagement, front and rear
diff locks, and so on.
Toyota Australia
www.toyota.com.auTOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES