I think the Land Cruiser 250 was rushed...

[chriscosta416]

Not sure if anyone shares the same opinion but I believe the Land Cruiser 250 was rushed to market and showcasing in time for the Land Cruiser anniversary, to capture on the buzz and hype the Land Cruiser name generated in recent years in the US market.

The GX550 reveal was well put together and all trims were ready to be showcased.

Here are a few things I observed that support my opinions

- First Edition was not shown, only computer renders - The GX550 showcased the Overtrail in addition to the other trim levels, all looked fully finished
- Quality and "well put togetherness of the prototype shown" - Biggest giveaway was the tow hitch cover and certain interior bits such as the JBL covers
- Two different front ends - I think Toyota produced 2 different front end concepts and were thinking which one would look best/perform best and decided to release both and see how the reaction was. I believe they will axe one of the front ends during a mid cycle refresh
- Wheels and tires - Both Land Cruiser grades haver very similar wheel designs.
- Lack of hood struts and engine cover - Now I could be wrong here but for a mid 50k truck I am surprised to see manual hood rod and lack of engine cover. Again my assumption is this was rushed for the reveal. OR this could be Toyotas way of giving purists what they want and something back to basics
- Key fob - plain as day
- 3 USB-C ports - One of the USB-C ports is to upload and modify the changing SW for the infotainment and gauge cluster

Below are some reasons I think so based on what I saw and read


Press releases
The GX550 press release is way more detailed vs the LC250

SOPHISTICATED UTILITY VEHICLE: THE ALL-NEW 2024 LEXUS GX 550

First-ever Overtrail grade with standard 33-inch All-Terrain tires and 18-inch wheels 3.4L twin-turbo V6 produces 349 horsepower; 479 lb.-ft. of torque Standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 and Lexus Interface with 14-inch multimedia touchscreen Up to...

www.media.lexus.ca

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Returns to its Origin - Toyota USA Newsroom

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 1, 2023) – Legends never die. Toyota’s off-road icon and longest-running nameplate is making a triumphant comeback to North America for the 2024 model year, returning to its rugged origin. Since its introduction in the […]

pressroom.toyota.com

Official Toyota videos

- Watching the official Toyota video, the press shots, b-roll has minor quirks you would not expect from a large automaker showcasing a big reveal. Dirty windows, talking about Global First Edition but showing the Land Cruiser Trim, talking about color selectable LED fogs but not showing the function. Showcasing a plain key fob. Not showing Center console cool box opening up.



I assume the shot list was laid out and the marketing team worked with what they had.


I am not saying the platform or drive train, testing or anything like that was rushed but simply the brand and model of the LC250 was rushed to market. It makes me wonder if 4Runner development was put on hold to complete this project to capture the hype on the LC name plate in the US.

 

[TexasFunRunner]

You forgot one, the ToyotaUSA youtube live reveal video, shot at the LCHM in SLC, was advertised to reveal at 9:20pm ET Aug 1st, 5 minutes after the global reveal youtube video completed. Some of us keep checking the link to no avail, but it was never released...

Until 12 hours later, at 9am, Aug 2nd, when they finally, quietly and with no fanfare, uploaded it to YouTube.

Funny to read the caption:

See the live reveal of the ultimate off-roading legend. With its remarkable capabilities and legendary reliability, the all-new 2024 Land Cruiser is ready for new adventures. Learn more about the 2024 Land Cruiser features, specs & more.

 

[chriscosta416]

You forgot one, the ToyotaUSA youtube reveal video, shot at the LCHM in SLC, was advertised to reveal at 9:20pm ET Aug 1st, 5 minutes after the global reveal youtube video completed. Some of us keep checking the link to no avail, but it was never released...

Until 12 hours later, at 9am, Aug 2nd, when they finally, quietly and with no fanfare, uploaded it to YouTube.

Funny to read the caption:

Very good point! Shot in broad daylight!

 

[Jetboy]

Makes sense. Toyota only had 16 years since the last USA Land Cruiser reveal to put this together. That's not enough time to raise children to be engineers, designers, marketing professionals, etc. and then have them make a new model and be ready to reveal this quickly. With that kind of rushed time frame - at best you're looking at starting with 5 year olds. Realistically you might have to even go with 6 or 7. How can you expect to start that late and still turn out a quality product when they've already passed through some early formative years? It's madness. And, frankly just poor planning on Toyota's part. Do it right or don't do it at all!

 

[chriscosta416]

Makes sense. Toyota only had 16 years since the last USA Land Cruiser reveal to put this together. That's not enough time to raise children to be engineers, designers, marketing professionals, etc. and then have them make a new model and be ready to reveal this quickly. With that kind of rushed time frame - at best you're looking at starting with 5 year olds. Realistically you might have to even go with 6 or 7. How can you expect to start that late and still turn out a quality product when they've already passed through some early formative years? It's madness. And, frankly just poor planning on Toyota's part. Do it right or don't do it at all!

My point is this - the LC 250 design and nameplate was rushed and probably not meant to be released this year. Even all previous press releases stated the LC name will not be back in the states and up until recently word started changing.

The original slate a few years ago was to showcase the next gen 4runner.

 

[Jetboy]

My point is this - the LC 250 design and nameplate was rushed and probably not meant to be released this year. Even all previous press releases stated the LC name will not be back in the states and up until recently word started changing.

The original slate a few years ago was to showcase the next gen 4runner.

I think you're right. I was mostly just poking a bit of fun at how odd it is that after 16 years they were still somehow behind schedule. I thought it was a pretty open secret that the LC was coming back even when they announced the end of the 200 when they said dealers want the LC nameplate, but not the luxury wagon product. Everything is way behind schedule it seems - beginning with Tundra all the way through to the 4Runner.

 

[on the rocks]

It 100% felt rushed and poorly put together. I also think this was originally intended to be the next gen 4R, with no proof obviously...

Lexus-1; Toyota-0

Overall not a fail but as a LC enthusiast and able to actually BUY a Toyota off the lot vehicle new now, I'm leaning GX if either at all. Bare bones and cloth may be the rage because it wasn't available here years ago but not my thing and not how I know the LC. The fact they didn't show the high end LC or what it COULD be is disappointing.

I actually pulled the SLC release video from a you-tuber that night and posted it here confused.

 

[Knowbuddy]

here is the thing they also announced the new 70 with little to no fan fare. They brought it out and then spent more time on the 250.

 

[M1911]

Not sure if anyone shares the same opinion but I believe the Land Cruiser 250 was rushed to market and showcasing in time for the Land Cruiser anniversary, to capture on the buzz and hype the Land Cruiser name generated in recent years in the US market.

The GX550 reveal was well put together and all trims were ready to be showcased.

Here are a few things I observed that support my opinions

- First Edition was not shown, only computer renders - The GX550 showcased the Overtrail in addition to the other trim levels, all looked fully finished

Nope. First Edition was shown at the Salt Lake City event.

 

[Knowbuddy]

Nope. First Edition was shown at the Salt Lake City event.

only The Land Cruiser and 1958 were in SLC. They showed the 1st edition in the Japan launch.

 

[chriscosta416]

only The Land Cruiser and 1958 were in SLC. They showed the 1st edition in the Japan launch.

No roof rack

 

[jefo13]

Good observations… I was blown away and excited by the Lexus… incredibly underwhelmed and disappointed by the fawcruiser

 

[Nottajeep]

here is the thing they also announced the new 70 with little to no fan fare. They brought it out and then spent more time on the 250.

Well do they really have to advertise the 70 series? Rhetorical question..

 

[Knowbuddy]

Well do they really have to advertise the 70 series? Rhetorical question..

All I’m saying is it was introduced at the same time. With changes yes. While for the first little bit they will retain the v8 turbo diesel and manual I’ve heard they are being phased out for an auto 4 cylinder diesel.

 

[OGBeno]

here is the thing they also announced the new 70 with little to no fan fare. They brought it out and then spent more time on the 250.

Because, like the 2007 changes, they are — from Toyota engineering and product planning POV — mid-life /minor changes. The inherent vehicle/body/chassis has stayed the same.

The 7x is still manufactured outside of the TNGA-F platform logic that Toyota is imposing on the all of the other BOF platforms— and will remain so until it’s phased out.

My educated guess is that the 7x is in its last decade or so of life; Toyota will put an end to the platform within a decade— there will be a 50th anniversary of the vehicle platform and then it will be done.

The LC250 is a completely new model and coming to America…. That was the big deal with the Japan announcement.

 

[Knowbuddy]

Because, like the 2007 changes, they are — from Toyota engineering and product planning POV — mid-life /minor changes. The inherent vehicle/body/chassis has stayed the same.

The 7x is still manufactured outside of the TNGA-F platform logic that Toyota is imposing on the all of the other BOF platforms— and will remain so until it’s phased out.

My educated guess is that the 7x is in its last decade or so of life; Toyota will put an end to the platform within a decade— there will be a 50th anniversary of the vehicle platform and then it will be done.

The LC250 is a completely new model and coming to America…. That was the big deal with the Japan announcement.

All I’m saying is it was mild fan fare.

 

[flx]

50 years of continuous production of a same model would already be a pretty big deal! Not many vehicles in history have a production that long...

As the developer said he wanted to give back the old design it would have been very fun to see the V8 discontinued and them going back to the narrow frame and front-end, no s*** given

 

[OGBeno]

All I’m saying is it was mild fan fare.

That’s the whole point of the 70 series. It doesn’t need any fanfare. It is already a vehicular icon, globally.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

here is the thing they also announced the new 70 with little to no fan fare. They brought it out and then spent more time on the 250.

See below:

Well do they really have to advertise the 70 series? Rhetorical question..

That’s the whole point of the 70 series. It doesn’t need any fanfare. It is already a vehicular icon, globally.

 

[Phillyd2]

Agreed that it was amateurishly done without any useful specifics. Even the YouTube yappers were ill prepared without much meaningful information.

They would have been better served releasing a tweet or insta video and then later offer full detail.