Yeah, and aluminum isn't exactly an inexpensive option. There is a price to be paid for reducing weight while keeping strength at least as good.
2024 GX/Prado Release and Discussion
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right. these are also applications where it's a matter of part replacement vs repair.
Ever hear of "mending" an aluminum part? I have not.
I personally think Toyota missed the mark in the USA with the Land Cruiser. The sales are not what they should be for legendary 4x4 with a long history. There's a huge void and and lot of potential if they get it right so I would not be surprised if we see a new version back in the USA. When they created the FJCruiser, I think they got it wrong. And again the sales weren't what they expected is my guess is why they don't sell them here in the USA. Just saying...anyhow, I hope they don't make us wait too long.
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I don’t know…people who want to REALLY take their rig off-road probably don’t want to spend $60-80k. Probably better just to get 4runner TRD Pro (if they want factory warranty and ready made). Yes, there are exceptions to a few folks who buy expensive vehicles and mod them. But those few exceptions won’t feed Toyota USA network.
I take my 2021 LC off road when I hunt, which is a lot. Mud and tough swamp terrain. No rocks here. Even with street tires, it hooks up and goes.
Been doing some reading around other Toyota boards and came across a rather interesting member sharing what feels like legitimate info. 300 is not coming to North America (I think we all knew that though) 300 Series is however scheduled for a refresh for MY 2025 with the hybrid power option (LX included)
The LC coming to us here in North America is going to be built on the new Prado platform. No word on a debut but he says production is scheduled to start this fall with the first trucks rolling off the assembly line in Japan in November. December for us here in the States as the GX550. LC to follow shortly thereafter. (First half 2024 maybe?)
Also FWIW I was bored after the hockey game last night and started flipping thru YouTube. There’s a video from Kirk Kriefels speculating the new LC being based on the 70 Series (I know, I know, dead horse) and while some of his stuff feels a little “click baity” to me it’s not as bad as TFL or Automotive Press. What I took away from it was him saying he will have a new GX this June meaning that reveal is just a couple months away. As always, we’ll just have to wait and see.
The LC coming to us here in North America is going to be built on the new Prado platform. No word on a debut but he says production is scheduled to start this fall with the first trucks rolling off the assembly line in Japan in November. December for us here in the States as the GX550. LC to follow shortly thereafter. (First half 2024 maybe?)
Also FWIW I was bored after the hockey game last night and started flipping thru YouTube. There’s a video from Kirk Kriefels speculating the new LC being based on the 70 Series (I know, I know, dead horse) and while some of his stuff feels a little “click baity” to me it’s not as bad as TFL or Automotive Press. What I took away from it was him saying he will have a new GX this June meaning that reveal is just a couple months away. As always, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Agreed. It would seem to sorta fit with the current naming convention, but Toyota is all over the map on Lexus naming convention since it abandoned the engine size.
I have what I'm going to call "Jetboy's unified theory of Lexus post displacement naming convention" or JUTLPDNC. Rolls off the tongue nicely. The acronym can be correctly pronounced "stupid idea". Works like this:
Lexus models are given points based on hp. 1hp ~ 1.2-1.5 lexus points, except when it doesn't. RX350 base engine at 275hp also comes out to 1.24 points per hp. (350/275 = 1.24). RX350h is the non-turbo 4/hybrid which is awarded 1.42 lexus points per hp. And RX500h is the T4/hybrid and gets 1.37 lexus points per hp. As you can see it makes perfect sense! The LX600 has a base point/hp of 1.46. LX700h would be adding hybrid on the turbo base engine, but in this case only adds 100 Lexus points to the LX. By math and logic and random guessing I can conclude with a high level of confidence that the LX700 will have precisely between 477 and 489hp.
JMO, but honestly, we're (referring to LC enthusiasts) the only ones that care about the LC in the US.
Despite their superb build quality and long/legendary history the only people that care about the LC and recognize it for what it is are enthusiasts, a handful of people that recognize Toyota quality/ reliability and military personnel that severed in the sandbox where every third vehicle is a LC or Hilux.
I think the general public just sees its as another big expense SUV. All that said, I totally agree. Toyota has done a terrible job of marketing the LC.
I keep seeing more and more reports that the next U.S. Land Cruiser will be based on the Prado.
hopefully not as ugly
The last time Toyota bothered to spend marketing dollars on the LC was with the pre-facelift 100 series. Since the Sequoia came out, Toyota has put all marketing dollars towards that car.
98-99 was the last TV/print commercial for the LC100 in America but I think Lexus continued to market the 100 series later in the gen.
It will be a Prado/GX platform with the all-new 2.4L TT i4 Hybrid MAX powertrain. People saw it in October at the dealer meeting but had their phones taken from them. Maybe something like this:
Simple branding. That is why they have an RX350 and an RX450h. And, earlier, the LS 460 and the LS600hl. The hybrids are the premium car.
And that ridiculous swing door
We've been demanding diesel, solid front axles and a bunch of other stuff for 30 years and Toyota has ignored/placed priorities elsewhere.
Ignoring manufacturing capacity for a moment....this is more a political issue than anything with politicians and bureaucrats pushing for more and more nonsense under the guise of "safety" and emmission controls to be heaped onto vehicles.
I think you hit the nail on the head
The FJ Cruiser was a bomb, I drove one and the visibility/blind spots were so bad that I wrote it off
My DD is a 4runner.....all in all a pretty traditional construction vehicle......Toyota sells huge numbers of them
A 76/79 series LC would sell fabulously in the US even with a gas motor.
Precious few Americans would plunk down north of 80 grand for a cloth interior work truck with a manual transmission and one single-cup holder.
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