Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that it has launched its new Land Cruiser today, August 2. Launched in August 1951, the Land Cruiser was originally known as the “Toyota BJ,” a four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with a powerful engine. In the 70 years since, it has sought to deliver safety and security to diverse customers and other people involved with the vehicle. All over the world, the Land Cruiser has supported lives, livelihoods, and more fulfilling lifestyles, and promised to take people anywhere and everywhere, and come back alive and safe. Now, the Land Cruiser’s essence of “reliability, durability, and off-road performance” has further evolved, based on the actual usage situations of its global customers. A cumulative total of approximately 10.6 million units―and more than 300,000 units 1 a year―are being cherished by customers in 170 countries and regions all over the world.
The Land Cruiser first participated in the Dakar Rally―known as the world’s toughest race―in 1995, and has continued to take part in the production car category in the more than 25 years since then. For the new 300 Series Land Cruiser―and for the GR Sport model in particular―feedback from drivers participating in the rally was used for vehicle development; the goal was to implement improvements and create a vehicle that was secure, easy to drive, yet difficult to tire in even the harshest driving conditions, and thereby make “ever-better cars” through motorsports. From the 2023 edition onward, Team Land Cruiser TOYOTA AUTO BODY is planning to participate in the Dakar Rally with an entry based on the 300 Series GR Sport. By participating in the rally, the development team hopes to further evolve and improve the superb potential of the vehicle, and reflect these improvements in future production cars.
GR Sport Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) is a suspension control system that contributes to both increased driving stability in urban environments and superior off-road performance. It automatically and electronically controls each front and rear stabilizer independently, reacting to road conditions and the individual conditions of each of the four wheels to provide more precise stabilization adjustments. Alongside the implementation of E-KDSS, the new Land Cruiser features optimized spring constants and AVS for outstanding steering stability. It is also equipped with a significantly lengthened suspension stroke and the longest wheel articulation of any generation in the series. The GR Sport is equipped with both front and rear electronic differential locks, contributing to improved performance in a variety of off-road environments.
