Tough with the smooth
Having proved themselves over and over again as the vehicle of choice when the going gets tough Toyota's Land Cruiser 70 range has now been rounded off - for the time being at least - with the option of a whopping 4461cc V8 turbodiesel mill, intercooled motor.
In a Reflective Mood: With a little leisure time on our hands, Toyota organised a balloon trip before breakfast .... |
Apparently customer feedback suggested a more
powerful motor was needed, and listening to them decided a lusty new V8 was
just what the doctor ordered. Little has changed in the looks department - still
the same old tough-looking workhorse, if the truth be known, but now sporting a
small V8 badge on the tailgate, a hood bulge to accept the water-cooled
intercooler and the addition of an external snorkel-type air cleaning system
bolted along the front wing and running high up on the driver's side windscreen
frame.
That's it - very few other additional frills needed
to make this particular Land Cruiser even more desirable to those who hanker
after this type of vehicle ... And there's a lot of people out there who swear
by them - how else can you account for a waiting list that totals 1242 at last
count?
It was only fair to put this newcomer through its
paces on a 4 x 4 track - it almost seemed a futile exercise in a way because
the Land Cruiser's abilities to 'devour' anything thrown at it is legendary.
The steepest dirt hillclimbs, the largest potholes and toughest bush tracks
were all climbed out of, up and down with aplomb. Even novice 4 x 4 motoring
hacks like me were made to look good!
Very little has changed inside the cab, a tweak
here and a tweak there with one noticeable exception: the Land Cruiser has
definitely moved into the 21st century with the addition of a new audio and
navigation system. But someone in the design studio obviously has a sense of
humour because the aerial fitted is a throwback to the 70s: press a button on
the dashboard and a chrome, five-piece sectioned antenna rises from the
mudguard! Hit the button again and it gently lowers! As a token to modernity,
though, there's now a large display screen in the centre of the dash, there's
smartphone connectivity and even SMS functionality. Going on a trip to
Mozambique (as one does), no problem, it's now mapped - along with Botswana,
Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.
All new Land Cruiser 70 models come with Toyota's
comprehensive three-year/100 000 km warranty. These models are also supported
by the ToyotaCare Roadside Assistance Programme and entitles customers to
24-hour roadside assistance.
Selected pricing
'76' 4.5 V8 Diesel SW R587 500
'79' 4.5 V8 Diesel SC R527 000
'79' 4.5 V8 Diesel DC R567 600
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