In the pipeline?

THE 70’s 4.5-litre V8 1VD-FTV diesel is claimed to make a solid 151kw and 430Nm. I say claims because at times it underwhelms at highway speeds, while it can be affected by hills you’d think it ought to dismiss more readily.

On top of that, the 70 isn’t light, and it has massive aerodynamic drag due the tall and blunt-nosed cabin, which is often the reason for lacklustre highway fuel economy.

Aftermarket enhancements to increase power from the 1VD-FTV are easy enough to come by, and there’s plenty of untapped potential given the stock engine’s low state of tune.

However, a 90-degree V8 with a single turbo is a compromised design as turbos work best when nestled close to the engine’s exhaust ports. In the 70, the turbo is next to one set of exhaust ports but a fair distance from the other set, a result of the wide 90-degree angle between the cylinder banks. The obvious answer is to fit a turbo for each cylinder bank so each can be placed close to the exhaust ports of its cylinder bank, an arrangement you’ll find with the 200 Series V8.

Will the 70 get the 200’s twin-turbo engine and, as icing on the cake, its sixspeed auto? Unofficially, as far as Toyota product planning is concerned, everything is on the table. So here’s hoping they come through.