New 7X in North America? (2 Viewers)

[aamiggia]

This is a quote from what seems to be a Toyota Rep. listening in (ToyotaR&D).
It maybe someone pulling our leg, but I'll take the chance.

On the note of importing the 70 series of landcruiser into america, whilst in early stages of planning, the increasing safety standards in third world markets requires toyota to implement safety features such as airbags and side intrusion beams. That and the latest emissions requirements imposed from countries signed to the Kyoto agreement mean that importation of low volumes of 7X series of landcruisers may become viable, in an effort to appease our traditionalist, or loyal followers.

My question is, what would be needed to upgrade a 7X LC to Canadian/USA standards. I can think of the following.

- ODB II
- Airbags
- Side impact beams

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

This is a quote from what seems to be a Toyota Rep. listening in (ToyotaR&D).
It maybe someone pulling our leg, but I'll take the chance.



My question is, what would be needed to upgrade a 7X LC to Canadian/USA standards. I can think of the following.

- ODB II
- Airbags
- Side impact beams

Great thread. Im interested in a diesel 74. I wonder what route Id need to go for that? Again, I keep going back to the TJ, but if that vehicle can pass safety standards so can a 74 without any modifications.

That said it seems to be air (head) bags and emissions.

TB

 

[Diescipel]

Ok--what do you think they will rename it as? I don't think they will use the Landcruiser name and undercut their 100 series sales...


B

 

[beanz2]

They've sold the Bundera/Prado/LCII under the Land Cruiser name for years in other markets without undercutting the line.

Besides, just look at Toyota's global offerings, which is the true successor to the 25/40 series, the 100 or the 70 series?

Dave

 

[tlcruiserman]

I doubt they would ever sell a 70 series in USA, I am making an assumption we are talking about troopy or pickup? But as far as upgrades and selling here, where have you been the prado is sold here as the Lexus GX470 and that is now the 120 series if I am not mistaken so I think they have already done that.

As far as pickups why mess with the hugely successful pickup line they currently have and for the troopy, I don't think the market is there to spend more and get less creature comforts (damn Americans, hey me included in that jab) Land Rover tried that with the Defender series and failed so I think if you want size, and the majority that do will belly up to TLC and if they don't have the cash go with sequoia.

ok sorry to be mister glass is half empty but just being logical (the engineer in me). Just my 2 cents

G'day,

Michael

 

[tlcruiserman]

On another note, just cruious here.


If you could legally buy a 70 series in the US, lets say a BJ73/BJ74 what would it be worth to you? would you belly up the coin to own one? Feel free to chime in and render an opinion on this one please

G'day,

Michael

 

[beanz2]

Uhhh, $30,000. Yep, that's it

Remember, talk is cheap. From 10 people expressing serious interest, probably only 1 or 2 would actually pony up the money.

Dave

 

[70seriesaddict]

Land Rover tried that with the Defender series and failed
G'day,

Michael

Rover gave up because they were too lazy to do the airbag thing and because of problems with pass. side footwells in crash tests.

 

[70seriesaddict]

Ok--what do you think they will rename it as? I don't think they will use the Landcruiser name and undercut their 100 series sales...


B

i thought toyota was gonna ditch the 100 series to only bring it in as a lexus?

 

[70seriesaddict]

well, what was in that toyota rep's quote was actually right, i mean OZ now requires side safety impact beams, but all this does not mean toyota will bring in the 70 series, and it may be a long time off, by then toyota may no longer even make it.

if all of the rumors are right, then it sounds like there will be one world standard in 20 years anyway, so, we'll see.

judging by what i've seen missing on my HZJ75 and some rest of world 70/71/73/74s, a 70 series as it sits now need lots of little things. it would need emissions mitigation, dual airbags ( a big thing), ABS (i think), front crumple zones (maybe), side safety impact beams, door ajar chime, seatbelt chime, removeable top models need a roll bar and if there is a fold down windshield then there needs to be a roll bar to protect that, high mount rear brake light, locking glove box, front and rear side marker lights, rear license plate light, speedo unit in MPH, and i am sure i am forgetting stuff, but this is what comes to mind. i guess i'd have to go through the CFR again to pick out all the little things. aslo remember the 25% import tarif on foreign built trucks, so pickups would be painfully price inflated, but all other models can be imported as an MPV (multipurpose vehicle) which is what SUVs and minivans are classified as. i have seen the prices that 70 series go for new over seas, mid/high 20's depending on the model, not that bad, though no idea how much more they'd be here if they ever were brought in. sure is nice to dream though.

 

[Stone]

If I had the bank accounts that some of the members here in MUD have, I would be willing to shell out as much if not more money for a brand new 70 series Troopy with a 1HD-T than a fully loaded 100 series.

But, I'm on the poor side of poor for now, so I will probably continue to look at JDMs as an affordable source of 70 series Cruisers.

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

Stoney, we wouldnt shell out the money either ifn we could get JDM's!

I'd pay 10 grand more than the 30,000 asking price for a TJ Rubicon Unlimited. That's 40 grand. Dont tell me Toyota couldnt sell one here for that.



TB

HDJ-74's away.

 

[madams557]

tlcruiserman wrote "As far as pickups why mess with the hugely successful pickup line they currently have and for the troopy, I don't think the market is there to spend more and get less creature comforts (damn Americans, hey me included in that jab) Land Rover tried that with the Defender series and failed so I think if you want size, and the majority that do will belly up to TLC and if they don't have the cash go with sequoia."

Just from what I've read, since Ford has taken over Rover, they are seriously considering bring the D90 back to the states. Its been awhile since I've read that, so it might have just been take. Of course since taking over Rover, Ford has replaced the BMW V-8 in the Range Rover with a Jaguar V-8 and completely redesigned the Discovery or Dwhatever it is now.

Could be on the horizon.

 

[Island Moose]

I think part of the problem is the mysterious reluctance North American buyers have toward diesels. Daimler Chrysler have been talking about bringing the diesel Jeep Liberty to North America for four years, and is it in the showrooms yet? Other than the big haulers (F350, CK3500 etc) and the VW's, you just don't see new diesels in the US and Canada.

Reading a copy of a British 4x4 magazine I came to realize that almost every SUV for sale in the UK has a diesel option (imagine a diesel Discovery, Pathfinder, 4-Runner, Cherokee, Vitara, Montero....), many of them powerful little turbo models getting great mpg.

A gasoline powered 70 series in todays market wouldn't offer anything new to the consumer and would take showroom space from the Tacomas.

 

[beanz2]

A gasoline powered 70 series in todays market wouldn't offer anything new to the consumer and would take showroom space from the Tacomas.

Agree. Toyota has filled its market niches well with their current offerings. Some of their vehicles are US specific and are selling well indicating the accuracy of their market research. The only niche left unfilled is us, the ones who long for the unobtainable, and if the 70 series is made widely available to us, we start longing for something else.

Look at the Aussies, they get all the troopies and turbo diesels they want and they wish they can get the Mega Cruiser. Ross, you reading this?

Dave

 

[cruiser_guy]

I think part of the problem is the mysterious reluctance North American buyers have toward diesels.

Moose, it's not mysterious at all. Think mid-late '80's General Motors offering the North American public a "diesel". That engine probably did more to hurt diesel sales in North America than ANY other incident.

I bought my '82 BJ60 in '88 or '89 and almost everyone thought I was a total idiot for actually looking for a diesel specifically. The boss at the place I was working at had replaced 3 Chevy 350 diesels in his Malibu wagon and finally gave up and went to a gasser. Those 350 diesels were simply a gasser 350 block with a diesel head and DID NOT LAST.

 

[madams557]

I think Cruiser_guy hit it on the nose. A recent article in the WSJ that was covering the anticipated release of the Diesel V10 by Volkswagon spoke to this. While I wasn't a driver at the time, I believe that everyone of the U.S. Big Three had dabbled in diesel cars in the 80s. I know that I've seen a diesel Chevette and Escort. That along with diesel VW Rabbits and Mercedes Benz, I think those diesels left a bad test in everyones mouth.

This article in WSJ talked about the huge strides VW and other manufacturers had made in Diesel technology and that BMW was working on a diesel engine that produced some very reasonable road track numbers.

Within the last 10 years, I think the U.S. market is starting to come around to diesel. When VW re-released a diesel Jetta in the U.S., they sold them all. I have a few friends that commute 60 miles one way to work everyday and both one diesel Jettas. Told me there were none on the lot and they had to put their name on a waiting list. Now that TDI is being shoehorned into everything VW makes. Now the V10 diesel might be a different story since that Toureg will have a $50.0K ++ price tag on it.

As for DiamlerChrysler and the diesel Liberty, I hope it sells. I hope it shows that there is a diesel market in the U.S. again. Do I think Toyota will follow that trend - NO. They are the tip of the spear for hybrid technology, and that is the future of motorized transportation.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Agree. Toyota has filled its market niches well with their current offerings. Some of their vehicles are US specific and are selling well indicating the accuracy of their market research. The only niche left unfilled is us, the ones who long for the unobtainable, and if the 70 series is made widely available to us, we start longing for something else.

Look at the Aussies, they get all the troopies and turbo diesels they want and they wish they can get the Mega Cruiser. Ross, you reading this?

Dave

I certainly am reading this,with interest too.
I think american lawyers would rub their hands every time a tall skinny troopy or cab chassis rolled over or hit a little car.
I saw a troopy involved in head on smash a few months ago.
The troopy mounted the front of the little car and took the roof off killing the young girl.
Sure,this could happen with any modified older 4wd,but a current model could possibly be labelled a killer car.
The Ford Explorer wasnt a great car but it probably didnt deserve the amount of bad publicity it got.
A current model turbo 78 series puts out 317 grams (2/3 lb) of pollution every klm according to the windscreen sticker so if thats too much for US enviro laws then forget it.


In oz,its only the mining and govt thats keeps the marque alive.
The troopy seating arrangement is being phased out in favour of forward facing rear seats to comply with occ health and safety laws thus making the troopy less usefull.
Companies are charging $3000 to do the conversion if they can get the seats(you need the special front seats to do it properly).

There was rumours 3-4 years ago about the end of the 7# series and the 105 being released as a ute ,dual cab or tray.

In short I think the 7# series is just a bit too agricultural for the US market and
I think the Europeans have dumped them as well.
So apart from the mining industry, the UN and warlords in 3rd world dictatorships, there is not many who buy them new.

I think Toyota should revisit the military market considering the current world conflict and introduce the MegaCRUISER with that new 4.4 twin turbo V8 stink motor

 

[Satamax]

Hi everybody!

RoscoFJ73. In europe, most of the countries have ditched the 70 series The LJ in mid 90 IIRC, the the kzj series, with the apearing of the 90/95 series, and the HZJ, 4.2 liter ones something like 2002. But thoses are still imported in spain and italy someways. In France we still can imatriculate thoses as "imatriculation a titre isolé" meaning that a single person can go to to the homologation people to imatriculate it, with a complete check of the car, with the slight modification needed. Fairly usual here for a car which had a certificate of comformity, thought it's the same process used for homologating a hot rod or custom, And for thoses, we don't have much room for stuff like drag pipes, side exausts or cars with no wheel arches. See what i mean. Something comon here as far homologation, 70 wise, is the change from 2 seater to five seater. And for diesel cruisers, we don't need much, as we have many, tons of LJ and KZJ, less of the HDJ, BJ and HZJ, max price for a HDJ secondhand, is 20, 22000 euros. 15000 for a HZJ, and 5 to 10000 for a BJ.

Best regards.

Max.

 

[70seriesaddict]

Just from what I've read, since Ford has taken over Rover, they are seriously considering bring the D90 back to the states. .

rover both pre and post ford has always talked about bringing back the d90, they have always known how popular they were and when they left the market rover dealers srambled to provide used d90s because prices spiked big time, in my mind higher than new used prices means that rover went worng when they stopped bringing them in and i think rover finally figured that out, but by the time they figured it out it was too late, they were not prepared for the possibility of keeping or returning it to the US market and it takes a while to do development and retooling to redo the d90 so that it can be brought in now. we'll see, i'd like to see it come back, and with a diesel