Spy Shots: Toyota Land Cruiser
It's times like these that we really get excited about our readership. Whether it's a longtime gearhead in Seattle, an industry mogul in Detroit or a twelve-year-old whose four-wheeled obsession has just begun, we know that you're out there and that you'll never, ever, let us down.
This fact was made overtly apparent to us last night when Zaid Abdullatif, a reader in the Sultanate of Oman, sent us these pictures of what could very well be the next Toyota Land Cruiser. Basking in the sun outside of the Shangri-La Hotel and Spa in Oman, the newly redesigned SUV appears to benefit from a thorough work-over, both inside and out.
The exterior has kept the patented rugged-luxury theme with clean lines, a large greenhouse and a revised grill and headlamp arrangement that manages to look both intimidating and tasteful at the same time. The interior, which is easily dismissed as the typical appliance-meets-mobility Toyota philosophy, has the potential to don some upper-echelon cachet when equipped with high-grade leather, soft wooden trim and techno-gadgetry. Also of note is the all-important third row seating, which is a necessity when competing at this price point.
Judging by some of the gashes and scratches in the mule's body, it looks as though the new Cruiser is in the midst of hot weather testing and being flogged in a way that only you and the rest of the Autoblog team could appreciate.
Click on through for the rest of the pics and again, thanks Zaid!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Alex 9:11AM (9/13/2006)
Finally, someone who knows how to photograph a vehicle!
SUV Still to conservative for me though.
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Jogia 9:14AM (9/13/2006)
The side view has a very Rav4-ish feel to it. Maybe an attempt to give the SUV family a common theme.
I'd be cusrious to see how it looks when tinted and with some nive rims.
But otherwise, waaay overdue.
OMAN... Toyota you can run, you can't hide.
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DJ 9:25AM (9/13/2006)
Some go'fer at Toyota uses three rolls of duct tape to cover all the external badging, but forgets to cover that HUGE logo on the steering wheel. DOH!
By the way, given the interior looks great in Toyota form, can you imagine it in Lexus trim?
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Howard Kerr 9:27AM (9/13/2006)
I KNOW I'll never be in the market for this vehicle...or even something similar, so my remarks are next to worthless. However, I do find the glass treatment to be interesting. And the headlight/taillight "update" is nice. But to me, the most impressive features of the Land Cruiser are it's impressive weight, it's impressive thirst, it's impressive built quality....in that order. This is one instance where I think the U.S. manufacturers also build a decent product. I'd buy a new Tahoe, before spending more money on this. Let's hope Toyota has adopted displacement-on-demand for this behemoth.
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Pedro 9:39AM (9/13/2006)
great catch!! keep up the good work my camera-handy friend!
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Ruckus1 9:44AM (9/13/2006)
Nice vehicle. I just bought a used 2001 landcruiser. Although I have never been a truck/SUV guy I really like the refinement of this vehicle. I really like the thought that this may be the last SUV I will need. Build quality is remarable.
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aki 9:50AM (9/13/2006)
Something about that rear panel reminds me of that old hearse in the Adams Family TV series, not bad but why are all the light's bludging out.
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aki 9:50AM (9/13/2006)
On second thought with a longer look it reminds me of an older model Pathfinder with a few updates, nothing much new here.
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jack flash 10:13AM (9/13/2006)
HO HUM.. ugly as ever.. and believe me thats UGLY
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Joe 10:31AM (9/13/2006)
Cloth seats, no adjustable armrest, no navigation, this is a truly down-market cruiser...
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Brad 10:42AM (9/13/2006)
Guys, I hate to break it to you, but this is the next Sequoia, not Land Cruiser.
Look at the interior -- Sequoia. The taillights are an evolution of the current Sequoia taillights, too. The front is the new Tundra facade being transplanted onto a four-door SUV. I am almost positive this is not the new LC.
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fer17 6:40PM (9/13/2006)
yea from the side it looks like the pathfinder/montero and it IS UGLYYYYYYYYYYY specially the front
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Erik 11:03AM (9/13/2006)
I can't think of a current model from any manufacturer that needs replacing more desperatly than the ancient Land Cruiser. With a look straight out of the mid 90's, it's shocking that anyone would still buy the current model new. The above would be a huge and much needed improvment. I like the center stack and the front clip. The only question remaining is is there still a market for the Land Cruiser?
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AndyT 11:25AM (9/13/2006)
#12 - My X-ray vision sees LAND CRUISER under the black tape on the rear, below the Toyota logo and above the plate. This ain't no Sequoia!
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Emil 11:29AM (9/13/2006)
RE: 13.
The Land Cruiser is a global platform. It is the vehicle of choice for those in remote areas, with no cell phone coverage, no triple A, and where a breakdown can quite literally mean death.
Thus, there will always be a market for LandCruiser. Though it may not be the blingiest vehicle for American suburban commandos, it will be judged as all previous LandCruisers have been: it's ability to get you there and back, wherever there is.
The better question may be: "Is there a market for the Land Cruiser in the United States?" Seeing that they sell every one they import there, and it's cult following in the US (And the FJ Cruiser is not a Land Cruiser), it seems there is.
I for one enjoy the stark, utilitarian look of the vehicle. I'd have it no other way. If I wanted bling, I'd buy an Escalade. But, being that surviving in remote areas of Costa Rica and Guatemala are more important to me, I'll take the Land Cruiser.
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Emil 11:46AM (9/13/2006)
The dash looks much like that of the current Prado (GX120), which is marketed in some countries as the Land Cruiser Prado.
Also, maybe it's just that there's nothing to compare it against, but it looks smaller than a UZJ100 series, and does not look much like the artist's conception of the Land Cruiser 130 Series that made it into a japanese auto magazine a while back... (see http://www.nlck.no/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=28)
I'm thinking this might be the next Prado, off which the American Lexus GX470 and 4Runners are based.
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John Treloff 12:49PM (9/13/2006)
Kudos to Toyota for being able to put something out there into the market with this kind of styling and have people wave and say "thank you Toyota, I love you!"
If there were any other nameplate on this thing it would be initiating gag reflexes on streets worldwide, and the comments on here would be enough to make baby jesus cry.
This is a hideous vehicle, and this is coming from someone who likes older Land Cruisers. Amazing.
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Son of Dat 10:26AM (9/14/2006)
It would look much nicer if it was parked on top of that CRX
#13 - hit it right right on the head - its a land crusier - the plates also would further prove the point (land crusier being a global ploatform).
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Aki 1:15PM (9/13/2006)
I'll never be in this market segment, but I really like how the new Land Cruiser looks--rugged yet subtly stylish. Land Cruisers were never about bling anyway, but they've slightly spruced it up into an understated cool. The only thing that slightly detracts are those bulging rear tail lamps. If I were ever in the market for one (which would only happened if I moved to Mongolia and lived in the tent), that'd be a nice choice.
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Edsel 1:02PM (9/13/2006)
This has a drop down tailgate like the 80 & 100 series Land Cruisers. I'll wager this is the real deal - perhaps, the 2008 Land Cruiser? Style wise it's not terribly appealing to me but "Style'n" is not why I buy them. Land Cruisers are still the best vehicle to get you back to base in one piece.
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