I think what you’re mainly attributing the difference to is the pre 16 200’s have the 6 speed and the 16+ 200’s have the 8 speed transmission.There's a thread that touches on the differences between the LX and LC.
Pedal Commander or other throttle controller thoughts?
One of the very few things that bugs me about the 16+ Land Cruiser is the throttle mapping which I think is far too lazy and slow. I end up getting worse gas mileage than I would with a more aggressive map because I'm into the gas pedal more than I'd prefer. My 08 LX is on the other end of the...forum.ih8mud.com
I drive a '13 LX, and Sport mode only impacts suspension in that vehicle. To change my shift points there's a 'Power/ECT' switch. But even in normal drive mode I notice a huge difference when I go from my LX to test drive LC's (which are usually '18+ when I'm looking). The throttle in my LX is super sensitive/jumpy off the line, so much so that it scares my kids when they drive it. The 16+ LC has a very different demeanor in that realm. The two vehicles likely have approximately the same 0-60, or perhaps the LC makes it there slightly quicker due to lighter weight?
I do feel like the 8 speed is mapped more for fuel economy though, and the old 6 speed was more happy to want to hop in a lower gear to gain more torque.
The 8 speed is more peppy off the line though since the gear ratio (1st gear) is much higher and creates a mechanical advantage compared to the 6 speed. At least that’s what I’ve experienced.
