I replaced them with a similar highway tire — Michelin CrissTerrains, IIRC.
2024 GX/Prado Release and Discussion (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter monrovia
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Status
Interesting article published today on a site called Jalopnik that includes these insights:
“Buyers in Japan have spoken. They have politely but firmly asked Toyota to keep the magic of the classic Land Cruiser alive, which is why the Land Cruiser 70 Series is being reintroduced to the Japanese market, according to Car Watch.
This marks the first time in a while that the entire Land Cruiser range will be sold in Japan concurrently, including the “light-duty” 250 Series, “heavy-duty” 70 Series and “station wagon” 300 Series, historically known as just the Land Cruiser in the U.S., unlike in markets abroad. When the two new Land Cruisers go on sale in Nippon in 2024, buyers will have a generous choice of off-roaders, ranging from the lifestyle LC 250, utilitarian LC 70, and top-of-the-line LC 300.”
Though I suspect few LC250 drivers will be lightweight, their new vehicle of predilection is described by Toyota itself, according to this article, as belonging to the “light-duty” or “lifestyle” segment, and in celebration of the newly released LC, that clearly has been designed as much for Moms as Boys, we should heretofore refer to this less polarizing, neutral Landcruiser version as the “SOYOTA LC 250.”
And there is more exciting speculation from AP today: the rumor mill in Drano, TX will soon announce a new trim Soyota LC250 in “Shocking Pink Metallic” that will be equipped with a light drag revolutionary Sequined roof and stand at a high heeled 10.7 inches. The new “Gucci Pro” trim LC250 will be sold exclusively in the USA at Saks Fifth Avenue, and will not be sold anywhere “that heavy duty, toxic, gag me with a spoon FJ70” is sold according to analysts…for obvious reasons.
[Edit: OK, all you closet Valley Girls, FJ70 fans have to suffer the crushing Groupthink here, so you should be able to handle some satire in exchange. Now you can go ahead and gloat and post that “the FJ70 will never be sold in the US!” Again. Go ahead. We know and love it. More for us. Yanks, write Toyota!]
jalopnik.com
“Buyers in Japan have spoken. They have politely but firmly asked Toyota to keep the magic of the classic Land Cruiser alive, which is why the Land Cruiser 70 Series is being reintroduced to the Japanese market, according to Car Watch.
This marks the first time in a while that the entire Land Cruiser range will be sold in Japan concurrently, including the “light-duty” 250 Series, “heavy-duty” 70 Series and “station wagon” 300 Series, historically known as just the Land Cruiser in the U.S., unlike in markets abroad. When the two new Land Cruisers go on sale in Nippon in 2024, buyers will have a generous choice of off-roaders, ranging from the lifestyle LC 250, utilitarian LC 70, and top-of-the-line LC 300.”
Though I suspect few LC250 drivers will be lightweight, their new vehicle of predilection is described by Toyota itself, according to this article, as belonging to the “light-duty” or “lifestyle” segment, and in celebration of the newly released LC, that clearly has been designed as much for Moms as Boys, we should heretofore refer to this less polarizing, neutral Landcruiser version as the “SOYOTA LC 250.”
And there is more exciting speculation from AP today: the rumor mill in Drano, TX will soon announce a new trim Soyota LC250 in “Shocking Pink Metallic” that will be equipped with a light drag revolutionary Sequined roof and stand at a high heeled 10.7 inches. The new “Gucci Pro” trim LC250 will be sold exclusively in the USA at Saks Fifth Avenue, and will not be sold anywhere “that heavy duty, toxic, gag me with a spoon FJ70” is sold according to analysts…for obvious reasons.
[Edit: OK, all you closet Valley Girls, FJ70 fans have to suffer the crushing Groupthink here, so you should be able to handle some satire in exchange. Now you can go ahead and gloat and post that “the FJ70 will never be sold in the US!” Again. Go ahead. We know and love it. More for us. Yanks, write Toyota!]
The One True Land Cruiser Returns To Japan With Retro Design - Jalopnik
Buyers in Japan have spoken. They have politely but firmly asked Toyota to keep the magic of the classic Land Cruiser alive, which is why the Land Cruiser 70 Series is being reintroduced to the Japanese market, according to Car Watch. It’s a significant return home for a few reasons, chief among...
jalopnik.com
The answer is, it depends. On any grade where the demand to power the vehicle is equal or higher than 279hp, no it will not charge the battery. It will only charge the battery when the engine output is exceeding the power demand of the vehicle.
For example - if there is a long mountain pass where the net power demand is 325hp, the engine will run up to the closest rpm it can find to peak power. Let's say that it happens to have a perfect gear for that. The engine then is at 6k rpms and it will maintain 6k rpm and the electric drive will also be providing 55hp. After roughly 1 mile the electric power will be depleted and the LC will no longer be able to maintain speed. At that point it will begin to slow down until the net load drops to 279hp and it would then continue at that speed until the grade levels out.
In the same situation where the hill is variable and there are short sections where it requires 300hp and then sections where it only requires 240hp, it could then run at 6600rpms peak out put continuously and apply the 240hp to drive the vehicle and 30hp to the battery charge during the less steep sections and then use that stored energy on the steeper parts. However, the tow tests with the same hybrid system in the Tundra does not seem to do this. In the tow test up the Eisenhower pass - the Tundra as best I could tell watching the dash in the video did not use the hybrid system at all. If it did, it wasn't showing on the display. So, beyond some max threshold it may just shut off. Not sure. It also may be different with the turbo 4 vs the 6.
In no case can it maintain greater than 279hp out put average for more than short bursts. It only has 279hp steady state.
The reason it'll tow like a 279hp engine is because it only has 279hp. And part of comfortable towing is having enough power in reserve that you don't need to drive around at high rpms. It's not enjoyable to drive at 6k rpms. At least not in any engine I've ever owned. A nice experience towing means an engine with enough power to pull the load at lower rpms where the NVH is low so it's enjoyable to drive. A 200hp diesel is often more comfortable towing than a 300hp v6 because the diesel produces the 200hp at 3k rpms where the gas engine requires 4500. The gas engine feels stressed and is racing while the diesel is lower power overall, but it feels nice to drive because it's not spinning at 4500 rpms.
How well the hybrid system can manage the experience is a bit unknown. In the recent hybrid suvs, the engine screams up passes when the steady state load is high for any meaningful period of time. I suspect towing with the hybrid LC will be similar. At the end of the day, it's a 279hp engine that needs to make all of the power to do all of the work. The hybrid can help normalize or buffer the load, but the engine still has to be able to do all of the work. On a big pass where a V35A would crank out 279hp at 3k rpms and feel calm and easy, the T24A hybrid is going to be at 6k rpms screaming away up. It'll feel a lot like the current Tacoma that also makes the same 279hp. That's not a good thing if you plan to tow much.
The final issue is that the fuel efficiency will typically be poor when you need output beyond about 3500 rpms. I can't find a BSFC map for the T24A. But typically the thermal efficiency falls with the drop in torque. In this case about 3500 rpms or roughly 200 hp. If the hybrid can keep the engine rpms on variable terrain under 3500rpms - it should make for nice towing and improved efficiency. For towing around the foothills and most places not in the mountain west - it will probably have a nice improvement over the outgoing 2GR because it can maintain more constant engine rpms without shifting so often and also avoid the peaks where it has to run up to 6k rpms. For steady pulling of heavy stuff - it probably isn't a good choice. It's not going to pull comparably to a 325hp engine. It isn't equivalent to a 325hp engine other than the on ramp or stoplight to stoplight.
Now - if it had a 10kwh battery, that changes the game entirely. Then it has 5 miles of 55hp bump. With a 20kwh battery there's very few if any passes that are both long enough and steep enough continuously to run out by the top. That's enough to pull the entire Eisenhower pass. And to recover the entire downhill. I hope that next step is in the plan. I think toyota screwed up badly by not planning for battery production and that's why all of these systems are so limited. Once they catch up on battery production we'll hopefully see the big improvements in the hybrid system capability.
We never had the GX in Europe so Prado only.
This is a good point and yes the homologation is based on braking capability.
The only * to that is that the vehicle homologation is EU wide but the speed limits are managed independently in each country (without and with trailer) so can't say if this is the case for every EU country and how restrictive it is everywhere.
But in France for what I know, if your car+trailer weights more than 3.5T you are limited at 90kph instead of 130kph on motorway (same speed limit than trucks).
Also in the EU any trailer over 750kg must have its own brakes, not sure it is the case in the US?
Let’s at least be honest enough to admit that they didn’t pick the best preforming and most reliable powertrains for any of their recent new trucks. What they did do was try to pick the least worse option given the current regulations and restrictions. Pretending anything else is just insulting.
Hope they picked wisely and that it is 'good enough' but no matter how pretty the lipstick……
Hope they picked wisely and that it is 'good enough' but no matter how pretty the lipstick……
I doubt it's the drivetrain. They all likely end up using the same 9.5 rear axle. The tacoma has a 9.5" rear axle that's the same track width. And the LC250 has the same track width and same powertrain. So, it's likely all share the same drivetrain parts. The lower tow rating is probably just due to power or payload limits. It's only 279hp steady state. How much would you want to tow with 279hp? The other factor is likely weight. The hybrid system is heavy. And the heavier the tow vehicle becomes, the lower the tongue weight can be to stay within the GVWR. That's the reason given by Toyota as to why the sequoia is rated lower than the tundra despite being nearly identical otherwise - it's heavier in the rear end with the full body vs the truck.
So you don't have to deal with this:
I don't care so much what the chemistry is. But the volume and weight is a real problem. Especially in the way Toyota has chosen to package and place the battery inside the cabin.
Prados have never had a 9.5” rear diff. The 150 series is 8.2” iirc
They do now. I'm 99% on this one. Toyota has said that the Tacoma will have the 9.5 rear axle. That part is straight from Toyota. They haven't said the LC250 does, but it sure looks like it. If you can see any difference other than spring perch and slightly different upper control arm towers, you see more than I do.
Prado:
LC300:
Last edited:
I strongly disagree.
We don't know what the reliability will be. The 5.7 has its issues (radiator leak, intake valley leak, air injection pump, starter motor in a difficult location to replace, etc.). We won't know what the reliability will be until years down the road. The assertion that reliability will be worse is an assumption supported by no data. Maybe it won't be as reliable, maybe it will be; we just don't know yet.
As for "best performing" the 5.7 certainly doesn't perform well in terms fuel economy -- fuel economy is horrifically bad. I get 14.5 mpg overall in my 200; 12.5 in the city. That simply isn't acceptable anymore. The 5.7 l in my 2013 200 is rated at 380 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. The 2.4l hybrid is rated at 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. I suspect that the hybrid will have more torque at lower rpm than the 5.7. The 2.4l hybrid in the 250 should have similar acceleration to the 200 series with the 5.7 while getting 50 to 100% better fuel economy. That sure seems like much better "performance" to me.
What remains to be seen is what the NVH will be like. My guess is that it will be great at lower RPM, but worse at high RPM -- time will tell. I don't know whether that will be a deal breaker. I sure do love the v8 sound of my 5.7l, but I don't like its lack of range or the fact that it uses so much fuel. Yes, I knew how bad it would be when I bought it and I can easily afford the fuel. But it still seems rather profligate to be driving a 12.5 mpg SUV on my commute to work.
My 2007 GX470 has 263 HP stock
. It's probably up around 280-300 hp with the mods but tows just fine. Turbo 4 should have better low-end torque than a 2UZ-FE.....so the answer is I would have no problem towing my 4,000# camper with 279 HP .My FIL's completely stock 1999 Cummins has a paltry 215 HP/420 ft-lbs and tows a 7,000# camper fine. Low-HP vehicles tow well when they have good low-end torque.
A BJ42 with a whopping 90HP on good days has a tow rating of 3T and people use it.
This FJ45 owner often tows this trailer with 2 proto-Suzuki on it on long distances to participate to trials.
So 279HP ?? Not so long ago it was a super car number !
Definitely an issue compared to the beneath mid-row seats like in the unibody Highlander. FWIW I have ~14" high drawers in the back of my GX and the added deck height really does not cause any issues when loading/unloading stuff....but at least the drawers help with storage.
SoyotaInteresting article published today on a site called Jalopnik that includes these insights:
“Buyers in Japan have spoken. They have politely but firmly asked Toyota to keep the magic of the classic Land Cruiser alive, which is why the Land Cruiser 70 Series is being reintroduced to the Japanese market, according to Car Watch.
This marks the first time in a while that the entire Land Cruiser range will be sold in Japan concurrently, including the “light-duty” 250 Series, “heavy-duty” 70 Series and “station wagon” 300 Series, historically known as just the Land Cruiser in the U.S., unlike in markets abroad. When the two new Land Cruisers go on sale in Nippon in 2024, buyers will have a generous choice of off-roaders, ranging from the lifestyle LC 250, utilitarian LC 70, and top-of-the-line LC 300.”
Though I suspect few LC250 drivers will be lightweight, their new vehicle of predilection is described by Toyota itself, according to this article, as belonging to the “light-duty” or “lifestyle” segment, and in celebration of the newly released LC, that clearly has been designed as much for Moms as Boys, we should heretofore refer to this less polarizing, neutral Landcruiser version as the “SOYOTA LC 250.”
And there is more exciting speculation from AP today: the rumor mill in Drano, TX will soon announce a new trim Soyota LC250 in “Shocking Pink Metallic” that will be equipped with a light drag revolutionary Sequined roof and stand at a high heeled 10.7 inches. The new “Gucci Pro” trim LC250 will be sold exclusively in the USA at Saks Fifth Avenue, and will not be sold anywhere “that heavy duty, toxic, gag me with a spoon FJ70” is sold according to analysts…for obvious reasons.
[Edit: OK, all you closet Valley Girls, FJ70 fans have to suffer the crushing Groupthink here, so you should be able to handle some satire in exchange. Now you can go ahead and gloat and post that “the FJ70 will never be sold in the US!” Again. Go ahead. We know and love it. More for us. Yanks, write Toyota!]
The One True Land Cruiser Returns To Japan With Retro Design - Jalopnik
Buyers in Japan have spoken. They have politely but firmly asked Toyota to keep the magic of the classic Land Cruiser alive, which is why the Land Cruiser 70 Series is being reintroduced to the Japanese market, according to Car Watch. It’s a significant return home for a few reasons, chief among...
TheRealDeal124
GOLD Star
Maybe I'll just wait for a 105, that tickles me a bit more than the 250. They made those in LHD yeah? With ambulance doors and a 5 speed? K294? No sunroof? Spartan interior?
Yes with the self destructing R151F gearbox. What an improvement for very long term durability, the thing is famous for suddenly grenade itself in the middle of nowhere and let you stranded.
I don't think this LC250 will be any beefier underneath than the 4Runner. To me it screams poser vehicle for the hipsters wanting to appear like they could out-survive Mad Max in the apocalypse.
Wil the GX550 top motor be the hybrid 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque?
- Status
