Toyota quashes four-pot Landcruiser rumour

Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley has quashed rumours the 70 Series Landcruiser will receive the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the Hilux when it is updated later this year.

Mr Hanley said he was not aware of any plans internally to separate the money-can’t-buy ‘70’ from its tried and tested 4.5-litre V8, despite claims to the contrary made in a report by Japanese publication Best Car Web as well as the obvious torque, fuel economy and emissions benefits of downsizing to four cylinders. The LC70’S Vdseries turbo-diesel produces 151kw and 430Nm in Australian delivered models and is matched exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission. The combination offers claimed combined cycle fuel consumption of 10.7 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 309 grams per kilometre.

According to Best Car Web, the Landcruiser would be fitted with the 1GD-FTV Hilux-sourced engine paired exclusively to a six-speed automatic. In the Australian market Hilux, Hiace and Landcruiser Prado variants, the unit develops 150kw and 500Nm, consumes 8.4L100km and emits 242g-km of CO2.

It is expected that, if true, the update would bring no change to the 70 Series’ braked towing capacity, currently 3500kg.

“I’ve heard the rumour and I can say that it hasn’t come from within our organisation, and I say that being a holistic organisation, a global company. There is no foundation to the rumour that I am aware of,” Mr Hanley said.

– Matt Brogan

NOT LIKELY: Australian consumers will go to ‘whatever powertrains we offer on one provision – it continues to provide the ability to do the things they want to do with their car’, Toyota says.