Toyota Land Cruiser once more rumored to return Stateside in 2024

You recognize what they are saying about smoke and fireplace. Not solely are we getting extra smoke in regards to the return of the Toyota Land Cruiser, we’re getting smoke indicators similar to these thrown up seven months in the past. In December 2022, TFL Automobile credited a “supply with familiarity of the matter” for information that the Land Cruiser would return to the U.S. in 2024. The resurrected truck would not be the worldwide mannequin we’re lusting over from afar, however a U.S.-market model of the Land Cruiser Prado bought abroad (pictured) underneath numerous names for greater than 30 years. We have been acquainted with the Prado since 2002, badged because the Lexus GX. TFL Automobile additionally mentioned the brand new Cruiser would provide a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with about 350 horsepower. That does not sound removed from the 326-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid within the new Tacoma, eh?     

Automotive Information now experiences that “an individual conversant in the plan” says the Land Cruiser may come again right here “as early as subsequent 12 months” in tandem with the next-generation Prado. AN then wrote that Japanese fanatic website Clicccar mentioned the body-on-frame truck would use the full-size Land Cruiser’s TNGA-F platform, identical to the brand new Tundra, Sequoia, and Tacoma, and provide a 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain.   

The Prado birthed the GX, now the GX is out in entrance of the Prado by a 12 months. That a lot we all know. What we would wish to know is the place Toyota takes the approaching Prado. Does it develop into a GX clone that additionally turns right into a Land Cruiser? And if there is a GX-sized Land Cruiser, the place does the (finally) redesigned Toyota 4Runner match? There’s barely two inches distinction in size between the present GX and 4Runner, however about $20,000 distinction in worth. Have been these deltas to hold over to their respective new generations, why not slot a Land Cruiser in between because the hardcore mid-size off-roader to problem the Bronco and Wrangler, and provides the 4Runner some house by including the massive dose of refinement it has been lacking for too lengthy?     

We think about Toyota execs dealing with a battery of questions on this when the all-new Lexus GX debuts later right this moment, questions we think about these execs will sidestep and dismiss. If a Land Cruiser — one of many nameplates the model is virtually assured to not flub — is de facto on the best way again, we’re all proper with Toyota demurring, however we’ll be trying on the GX much more intently.

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