09.01.2010 - The all-new Land Cruiser builds on the pedigree of its ancestors.  It is equipped with a raft of new and ad­vanced handling and driver assistance systems which take its off-road capabilities to new heights. At the same time, it has been engineered for greater on-road poise, comfort and performance.  The new Land Cruiser is only slightly larger than its prede­cessor, which helps maintain its off-road agility.

Intelligent interior design provides more space, with Toyota EasyFlat third row seats which can be raised or folded flat.  The usable loadspace has been signifi­cantly increased and a new rear glass hatch allows load­ing without having to open the full side-hinged tailgate – ideal for tight parking plac­es.

Toyota has retained the body-on-frame construction which has always been an integral part of this vehicle’s exceptional off-road ability.  Careful attention to the sus­pension design ensures that high standards of on-road ride, handling and comfort are maintained.

The new Land Cruiser introduces a series of ad­vanced but user friendly features to help the driver tackle even the most chal­lenging routes. These in­clude electrically modulated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), minimising body roll and giving posi­tive steering on-road, plus increased wheel articulation off-road; full-time all-wheel drive with Torsen limited slip differential; Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), with four driv­er-selectable modes to tailor vehicle settings for different off-road conditions; Multi-Terrain Monitor, a world-first system of front and side view cameras giving the driver a real-time view of areas around the vehicle which can’t be seen from the wheel; Crawl Control, which controls the engine and brakes to maintain a slow, safe speed (in forward and reverse) when driving off-road or wading, so the driver can concentrate on steering, and Active Traction Control (A-TRC), Multi-Terrain ABS and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) which are fitted as standard on all models.

17-inch alloys, roof rails, fog lamps, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth and Smart Entry and Start system are all standard at entry level.

The next level adds triple-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, powered fold­ing third row seats, leather upholstery, electrically ad­justable heated front seats, dusk-sensing headlights, auto-dimming rear-view mirrors, rear parking moni­tor, 17-speaker JBL premium audio package and a hard disc drive (HDD) navigation system with a 10GB sound library.  Top of the range models come with Adaptive Variable Suspension with Active Height Control, sun­roof, Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Monitor, Steering Angle Display, Multi-Terrain Select and a rear seat en­tertainment system for DVD playback and gaming.

The new Land Cruiser is offered as a five-door model powered by a 171bhp 3-litre D-4D engine, matched to a five-speed automatic trans­mission. Three equipment grades are offered – GX, VX and VXL – with seven seats fitted as standard on all but the entry level version (on which third row seats are optional).

For more information visit your nearest Toyota dealer or www.toyota.es.



This article appears in the print edition 607 of Island Connections

Gallery: New Toyota Land Cruiser

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