My 2 cents about the 300 series in the US....its not gona happen. But im guessing since the FJ Cruiser is still sold in specific markets, we might see a return of the old or maybe even a redesigned FJ Cruiser soon.
300 series rumors???
- Thread starter Rando Kuruza
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According to this guy we will know in April / May
Or is it just a rumor of when the reveal will be revealed?
Or just more click-bait.
azstreamer
GOLD Star
At this point in the USA, a 300 LC is vaporware. Fortunately I have hardware in the garage, a 200. 
One in hand is worth two in the bush........
One in hand is worth two in the bush........
I'd love to have Carplay, but I don't think it's really as simple as what you say.
Carplay requires connectivity to cellphones. It requires stable integration from the get-go and ongoing support as new phones get released, operating systems and protocols get updated, etc. Things will break, people will be mad, and things will need updating. And I'm sure there are licensing costs and difficulties involved, too. Yes, it's all doable and Toyota does it on other vehicles, but it all adds up in costs and affects the product's ROI.
It's also worth considering that any current tech/headunit will be obsolete in 3-4 years tops. Manufacturers simply cannot keep up with tech growth while retaining any semblance of reliability and reasonable costs.
Beyond the costs, for every person that wants Carplay, someone else wants complete head unit deletion. Keep in mind that the LC is a global-market vehicle, and in many markets the addition of complicated electronics is not desirable. Having configurable options would be great, but they are very expensive.
I once talked to a neighbour that used to be a product manager (or something similar) working on the 2nd Gen Tacoma. He told me of 6-hour long meetings to discuss the addition of a $0.10 part. Over millions of vehicles, ten cents plays a big role. Carplay addition will be exponentially more expensive.
And those that want Carplay will want other benefits, too. Heads-up displays, headlights made of hundreds of individually controllable LEDs, seats with massage function, better fuel economy, etc., etc. People will always complain about something lacking. In no time at all the list can get into Mercedes S-class territory, and that's simply not what Toyota is about.
Balancing the wants of the public vs. the cost to produce and maintain is a very difficult thing. They will never please everyone. If they add Carplay to the LC, but keep the price the same, they will have to remove something that we currently have/enjoy. It might be a reliable component that we've never had fail, but one that will be failing on future generations. How much are you willing to compromise to get Carplay? How much are you (the general/market "you") willing to pay?
I've always thought of Toyota as the company that lets other manufacturers experiment with the latest & greatest technologies/toys, and once the problems are ironed out, Toyota then implements those features into their vehicles. This is why Toyota tech is always 10-15 years behind, but it is also why Toyota tech works and does so with a predictable degree of reliability.
If you have to have the latest tech, you buy German. But you also do so with the understanding that things will break, and you will be paying a TON to fix them. If you want reliability and resale, you compromise on the latest tech and buy Japanese.
brettk
SILVER Star
Sure it is. We have wireless Carplay in both our 32 year old hilux and our 27 year old 80 series, and have had the units for almost 4 years with 0 issues for $400 a piece. All CarPlay does is mirror your phone, so as long as your phone is up to date, your head unit should work better (in theory).
If you can find a faceplate to match your dash, you could easily have it too.
2022 300 will have 70th anniversary badges, at least in the Middle East market.
My guess only for the first batches produced in 2021.
What better occasion for Toyota to celebrate 70 years of the LC than with the launch of an all new generation.
My guess only for the first batches produced in 2021.
What better occasion for Toyota to celebrate 70 years of the LC than with the launch of an all new generation.
Makes sense for MY release in August 2021. Thats when new MY begins manufacture anyway.
Also makes sense we are seeing prototype mass production model testing.
Mass production testing is most likely almost over. Tooling changeovers have already occurred most likely on Yoshiwara line #2. Former Coaster production line.
Manufacture for delivery will most likely start on Yoshiwara line #1 first production week of August 2021.
Dealer orders will most likely commence regionally starting in late Spring/early Summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
azstreamer
GOLD Star
A real good rule of thumb is the second production year could have most of the production kinks out..... I am done getting involved with the vapor ware, then bleeding edge, then cutting edge, then it just works to almost okay. When the 300 is as solid as a 200, then it might be time to see what is happening. Frankly, the big V8 in the 200 is a blessing. When those potential turbo chargers on a small block V6 crap out (not if but when), the repair dollars will be shocking. Been there and done that on my Ram when the factory variable vane turbo died. Suddenly we needed a turbo, a new "old generation" exhaust manifold and a stand alone exhaust brake system. It sure was not a smoking deal cause only my wallet was smoking 
I had all the gee whiz avionics in my airplane 45 years ago. I am not sharp enough now to comtemplaate that level of complexity. Nuts to getting older.
I would enjoy reading articles by the early adopters if any are in the US....
I had all the gee whiz avionics in my airplane 45 years ago. I am not sharp enough now to comtemplaate that level of complexity. Nuts to getting older.
I would enjoy reading articles by the early adopters if any are in the US....
Yes but all the other Toyotas and Lexus now have carplay.
If LC is special and needs to be universal Toyota could use a headunit with DIN or double DIN so anyone could easily upgrade the headunit.
having the climate controls on the screen kills this possibility.
TBH I think carplay and androidis MUCH safer because of the integration with the phone. Using the LC head unit can be a head scratcher and on long road trips a distraction.
Exactly. The ridiculous headhunit on the LC with climate integration stops you from using a standard DIN upgrade which Kenwood or whoever would manufacture if it were possible.
I haven’t heard this argument or complaint about an LC yet.
It doesn’t much matter. The new LC and LX will have carplay etc. in my opinion everything about the 200 Is a win except the headunit tech which is very very outdated and not important to most people. The JBL system even sounds really good.
edit: I had a Tundra with a DIN unit and upgrading the headunit was a simple job
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It's an issue for sure. There are multiple threads on both the 100 and 200 series forums for trying to get around the problem of their HVAC controls being integrated into their touch screens / stereos so they have no good alternatives to update to a head unit that includes modern standards. 30 yrs ago it was cassette tapes, 20 yrs ago it was CDs, 10 yrs ago it was DVDs, and 5 yrs ago it was CarPlay. I don't know where it will go, but you can be 100% certain that long before these new 300s are ready to be scrapped, it won't be CarPlay. On the other hand, double din size stereo head units have been around for at least 40 years. Maybe a new standard will come out to accommodate larger screens, but whatever that is, it likely won't include HVAC controls.
It seems my brief sarcastic comment was overlooked.
Just saw the interior shots from Russia
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Новый Toyota Land Cruiser 300: первые фото в Москве
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