2016 URJ200 SERIES LAND CRUISER/LX570 UPDATE-REFRESH

[jwestpro]

Yes I have set in, driven and in some cases owned some of the competing models. To qualify competing models, at least my own idea of what competing models are, other body on frame full size SUVs, like the Escalade, Denalie, Qx80, navigator, Sequaia, Expedition, Tahoe, wrangler unlimited.

I have driven X5s, Range Rover sport, M-class, g-class, grand cheeroke, durango. All unibody models, to me all cars made to look and function like SUVs as much possible for a car to do. The Range Rover and GC likely the most successful at it, at least on the off road side of things.

The seats are one of the things I like most about the current LX,LC, extramly comfortable to me on long trips.
One of the things I didn't like about the BMW, Range Rover and Benz and others were the hard seats. No matter how many ways I could move the seats, didn't make them any softer.

Interesting about seat support. I find soft seats to be nice at first but really not so great for long trips.

Maybe you aren't aware but the Range Rover and my LR3 both have what looks just like a ladder frame but also a fusion into the body. It is not really the same as the car-like BMW X5. Even more bizare is you seemed to lump the G into the unibody group. The G is more of a truck than any current Toyota including the truck itself if you consider the frame.

My LR3 can go anywhere with a current LX or LC, so could the Range Rover so off road capability is not really what I was getting at regarding "competition". Granted the LC/LX are a lot nicer than my LR3 but functionally inside there are some big differences in favor of the LR3.

I'd love it if Toyota could step it up a bit though as there are some aspects I really do prefer that have me seriously considering one.

 

[cc1999]

You must must be referring to G-wagon.
I was referring to the g-class The longer 3 row sister version of the m-class, the G-class shares its chassis with the Durango, the M-class shares its chassis with the jeep grand cheroke, which those are all pure unibody vehicles. I forgot about the Glendenwagon/g-wagon, those are body on frame, awesome machines.

I am only familiar with RR sport, my mom use to have one several years ago, my sister has one of the new unibody models now.

For me hard seats have always bothered my lower back and tail bone on long trips. I much prefer the LX seats for long trips.

 

[jwestpro]

The seat thing makes more sense with that in mind!

G "class" has always been in reference to the G-wagen. Nobody at any dealer would say "G-class" while referring to the GL which is the long 3 row unibody. This is in part because the term "G-class" has been around longer than the GL has existed. I know it's confusing because years ago, before all these variances within a certain size/shape, there were only the simpler S-class, E, C and then the M about 20 years ago.

After that things started getting ridiculous with SL, SLK, SLS, GLK and BMW X5,3,1,6 and next up, x7 in a couple years!

My least favorite car designations are any of the 4 door "coupes". It used to be that if I told you I had an M Coupe, you'd know obviously that it was in fact only 2 side doors and a true BMW "M" car. Now, there are imposters like 1M that are just a glorified trimmed out 135 and other cars that are called coupes with 4 side doors. WTF is a coupe-sedan?

Don't sound silly out there calling a G-class a unibody until MB screws the thing up and actually builds it as a unibody, which is not unlikely in the next several years time G only means G and not GL.

Ashtrays are useful by the way, I use the ones in the BMW for little things like wheel lock socket in back door or stealth mounted Escort 9500ci in the center console.

 

[jwestpro]

For me hard seats have always bothered my lower back and tail bone on long trips. I much prefer the LX seats for long trips.

Your sig shows same year of LC and LX, which seat do you prefer and why if so? I find the current same year LC/LX seats to have a noticeable difference while of course being more similar than say to any euro vehicle I mentioned above. Now that I think back, my 2006 LC was actually quite comfortable for multi-hour drives despite "lacking" some of the other adjustments I now think are mandatory.

I am only familiar with RR sport, my mom use to have one several years ago, my sister has one of the new unibody models now.
.

All Range Rover Sport ever made were what you are calling "unibody" just like the LR3 and current LR4. The trouble is that it isn't a true unibody but rather a hybrid of actual frame and unibody integration. I forget the wording they use but it's not just marketing mumbo jumbo. You can see it by sliding under and studying the structure. At first glance it actually first just looks like a body-on-frame more than anything else. It's not like my 2004 Discovery, a G or a Jeep Rubicon, but it's a blend of that plus bonded body shell. RRS and LR3 are almost identical in terms of the platform but the RRS is shorter wheelbase. I think even the very newest RRS in aluminum is still pretty much the same hybrid frame-body approach. Actually, I have no idea what the very latest RRS uses underneath. I have read it's different though as is the newest RR.

Oh, "Integrated body frame". That's the phrase. I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota ends up there as well as Mercedes. It's a way to be stronger and lighter and all sorts of things that either other extreme cannot be at the same time.

One of THE coolest things about the G, or any dual solid axle layout, is the ability for portal axles

 

[cc1999]

Interesting, thanks for the clarification on the Benz slang, your absolutly right, I just googled g clas not one GL pic pooped up, onely G-wagons. I though maybe it was a regional thing, my bad on that. I always called them G-wagons G-wagons, makes sense since there is two totally different models stating with the letter G.

Yea, coupe always makes me think 2 door and sedan 4 door. I am thinking there is technically something to do with structural post between the doors for sedan or open/ no post for coupes, seems like someone once told me that. Not sure if that's true.

 

[jwestpro]

Well, G "class" does sound a little snobby to me anyway. It is at the most pure title, a Geländewagen or G-wagen for short.

----
Anyway, enough of all that crap. This is after all the thread for hopes and dreams of the next Land Cruiser... I'm hoping it can inspire me again like when I first sat in an 80 and then my 100. Saw a beautiful 60, I think, the other day in Bend, OR and thought it was so very incredible.

 

[bjowett]

One of THE coolest things about the G, or any dual solid axle layout, is the ability for portal axles

Toyota made IFS/IRS portals for the Mega Cruiser and a variety of Dyna applications. Unfortunately, they are not easy to source or nearly as easy to swap in.

 

[Hothonda]

As a former owner of a purchased new G Class (2002 brought in by MBUSA - not Europa) they are not not the
most reliable vehicle. Non stop electrical gremlins....otherwise fun, but once was enough.

Test drove a GL550 before I purchased my '15 LC...too much drama (ha ha) out of the Mercedes dealer(s) in Seattle area + was not impressed with the GL series for what they cost.

 

[cc1999]

Your sig shows same year of LC and LX, which seat do you prefer and why if so? I find the current same year LC/LX seats to have a noticeable difference while of course being more similar than say to any euro vehicle I mentioned above. Now that I think back, my 2006 LC was actually quite comfortable for multi-hour drives despite "lacking" some of the other adjustments I now think are mandatory.

The LX has the softer seats, not by much, likely in part do to softer more playable leather in the LX. The LX also has that little power extension in the front of the seat cushion, that might also make some difference. I have spent 10+ hours on the road in them both, neither ever bothered my back or tailbone. I am really pretry darn comfortable in either of them.
Reason they are both 11s is that I hate the Spindal grill on the 13+ LX and Toyota dropped Super white on the new 13+LC

 

[Kajun]

Other then blind spot monitoring , lane departure and Birdseye cam , what other sort of tech is really missing when compared to the any of the competition ? Those are the only 3 things I sort of wish I had. Don't really care about lane departure but do like birds eye cams and blind side monitoring.

.

.
Not that BMW is a wheeling competitor but in price range I like the Night Vision available on the X5. I've had an earlier version on a 7 series and it works well. The new system includes spot lighting to illuminate objects better.

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/x/x5/2013/showroom/driver_assistance/night_vision.html#t=l

The system is sorta hillbilly proof. The night vision system is deactivated if the headlights are off. So no sneaking up on anyone... Or thing.

 

[GX-R]

Ok so it turns out the date for the update 200 series reveal in Japan is the 17th of August not June.

 

[GX-R]

Translated from the latest issue of MAG-X

This was done using google translate so....

///



■ exterior / design change
Headlamp front grille & bumper & fender
Rear bumper & combination lamp back door panel
※ except doors and roof, you almost will change!

TSSP (Toyota Safety Sense P) on all models as standard equipment

Other, ZX · AX-G · AX,
Multi-terrain Monitor ⇒ world's first under-view
Head lamp ⇒ LED standard
I will change such.

■ interior & exterior color

Exterior color / Copper Brown Mica Dark Blue Mica additional!
Interior color / Black Brown Furakusen Medium gray
In ZX, and standard setting the semi-aniline leather popular!
(Other than the pre-order, please note that you will be the delivery time is considerably delayed.)



//


Woah from what i understood it seems like this change will be pretty extensive a major minor change if thats how they call it. Looks like exterior will almost be all new with the exception of the doors and roof.

 

[SWUtah]

Your sig shows same year of LC and LX, which seat do you prefer and why if so? I find the current same year LC/LX seats to have a noticeable difference while of course being more similar than say to any euro vehicle I mentioned above. Now that I think back, my 2006 LC was actually quite comfortable for multi-hour drives despite "lacking" some of the other adjustments I now think are mandatory.



All Range Rover Sport ever made were what you are calling "unibody" just like the LR3 and current LR4. The trouble is that it isn't a true unibody but rather a hybrid of actual frame and unibody integration. I forget the wording they use but it's not just marketing mumbo jumbo. You can see it by sliding under and studying the structure. At first glance it actually first just looks like a body-on-frame more than anything else. It's not like my 2004 Discovery, a G or a Jeep Rubicon, but it's a blend of that plus bonded body shell. RRS and LR3 are almost identical in terms of the platform but the RRS is shorter wheelbase. I think even the very newest RRS in aluminum is still pretty much the same hybrid frame-body approach. Actually, I have no idea what the very latest RRS uses underneath. I have read it's different though as is the newest RR.

Oh, "Integrated body frame". That's the phrase. I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota ends up there as well as Mercedes. It's a way to be stronger and lighter and all sorts of things that either other extreme cannot be at the same time.

One of THE coolest things about the G, or any dual solid axle layout, is the ability for portal axles

I would say the problem with RR and LR is their extremely poor quality and dependablity record and reputation. Then you add on the high price to purchase and repair makes it a nonstarter for me. My daughter leased a 2015 RRS it's a $120k vehicle that will be covered by warranty for the entire lease. It is a huge waste of money. I would never want to own a RR/LR that was out of warranty. JMHO

 

[r3run33]

Honestly I don't think it's gonna be a big change "under the skin". Interior change and an addition of safety features I would not consider a big jump like it was from the 100 series to the 200 series. Now it may look different but if it's the 5.7 L and same chassis; I still say it's a 200 series

 

[r3run33]

Maybe aluminum skin??? Save on weight???

 

[GX-R]

It still is going to be a 200. It's just a heavy facelift. For example think of the 2012 LS vs the 2013 or the updated Tundra vs the pre update model. By doing this they are extending the life cycle of the 200 platform another 4 model years. Expect a totally new platform around 2019/2020. With a big facelift like this I highly doubt the all new LC will be out for MY 2018 like everyone thinks or else this coming update would have been really minor . They must be planning something really impressive for next gen if it is taking longer.

 

[jwestpro]

If this speculation becomes true, is it most likely for the 2016 model year or 2017? Also, is this supposedly for both LC and LX or just LX?

 

[jwestpro]

Toyota made IFS/IRS portals for the Mega Cruiser and a variety of Dyna applications. Unfortunately, they are not easy to source or nearly as easy to swap in.

That photo instantly made me think of the new for 2015 to North America 4x4 (more or less AWD) Sprinter van but with singles or super single in the rear

 

[GX-R]

@jwestpro both lc and Lx = MY 2016. Production starts August.

 

[jwestpro]

found these:
http://indianautosblog.com/2015/03/2015-toyota-land-cruiser-facelift-173908

then at bottom: http://steeringnews.com/toyota-to-offer-new-safety-packages-from-2015-2626/