Leaked Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 Dropping on June 9
There’s a new Toyota in town! The Land Cruiser LC300 is about to make its global debut on June 9. While the brand announced the Land Cruiser was taking a break after this year, it seems it is already coming back to the market with all-new-everything.
Saying goodbye to the old Toyota Land Cruiser
In spite of protest from fans, Road & Track reported that the 200-series Land Cruiser would no longer be produced in the U.S. Clearly, this ruffled some feathers, but there is hope on the horizon once again.
“While it will be discontinued in the United States after the 2021 model year, we remain committed to the large SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser’s rich off-road history. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments.”
Toyota
While the initial news sounded a bit vague, Toyota was adamant the brand would be back with something even better. The 200-series LC was a bit dated, and even though it was capable, other vehicles in the segment were far more capable. Toyota has now started some buzz with the “Teaser 1” video below with a new Land Cruiser sneak peek.
What we know about the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300
As first reported by Motor1, the Toyota Middle East YouTube account uploaded a six-second teaser video, as seen above. The SUV is expected to be underpinned by the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. The SUV is expected to lose the V8 engine and gain a turbocharged 3.5L V6 option, plus a 3.3L V6 diesel. The gasoline V6 is expected to get 409 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The diesel will get 302 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.
There are rumored to be a few trim levels. The GR Sport trim is supposedly 195.4 inches long, while another option is 196.2 inches long. The new Land Cruisers will be 76.5 inches tall and will have a wheelbase measuring 112.2 inches long.
Motor1 confirmed there would be an aluminum roof, and the ground clearance will match the dead LC200. While the spy shots show a similar silhouette to the Land Cruiser we love, it certainly has a refreshed look. The LC300 is expected to be capable of all sorts of off-road adventures, while the GR Sport will be even beefier for adventures.
The competition is stiff for the large SUV category
Without a doubt, the competition in the large SUV category is stiff. For the 2021 version, Consumer Reports gave the Toyota Land Cruiser a fair score. Above the LC on the list were the 2021 BMW X7 and the 2021 Buick Enclave. Nevertheless, the Land Cruiser only came in two points behind the Enclave but was almost double the price.
According to the sales figures on GoodCarBadCar, the Land Cruiser has sold 3,310 units so far in 2021 in the U.S. In 2020, the brand only sold 982 units. Not great numbers compared to something like the Toyota RAV4 that has sold 185,168 so far this year. That’s compared to 147,354 units sold in 2020.
In conclusion, most of the information out there right now is still rumors. It should be noted that June 9 will bring some confirmation to what has been floating around on the internet so far.
