The Workmate is just the base trim level for the 70-series lineup. After that is GX and GXL.
Should Toyota sell the 70 series in lieu of the 300?
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If you're in the position to purchase a new 300 series, you should have the ability to import and frame-off build any diesel 70 series and have a (better than new) 70 series in the end.
Sure, it won't have a warranty but quite frankly, a 70 series diesel doesn't need a warranty.
The probem is; what people say they want and what they actually buy are two very different things.
Sure, it won't have a warranty but quite frankly, a 70 series diesel doesn't need a warranty.
The probem is; what people say they want and what they actually buy are two very different things.
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
Workmate must be an Australian designation. I don't think there's such an animal in the middle east.What is a workmate?? Never heard them called that, I thought is was simply a 76-series.
This 79-series in the shop is pretty tasty.
I think the main issue with Toyota importing the 70-series is price point. They can’t bring it to the USA a market at a price point that it will sell enough for there to be a profit. Then you have all the other reasons for Toyota not to bring it in but it always comes down to money. I think they could sell at least 5-10,000 a year for awhile (Especially the 76-series) but that is simply not enough.
Cheers
I think it would take too much redesign (aka time and money) to meet all the US requirements. That's why Land Rover only imported the Defender for 2 years (IIRC). Definitely wouldn't recoup their investment.
If people are willing to spend more than 50k on that new jeep truck thing, then they will buy the much better built and more capable 70 series. If Toyota ever gets brave enough to bring them to the US and markets them appropriately. And yes, I have driven multiple 70 series over the years.
FJBen
SILVER Star
Have you seen the people who buy the jeep truck thing? 
Why would they spend that much more to get a Toyota? They want a cheap "overland" vehicle to look cool. (yes generalizing and overestimating) but by far the majority of people I see in Jeeps here in Colorado have zero care for a Land Cruiser or even know what one is.
Why would they spend that much more to get a Toyota? They want a cheap "overland" vehicle to look cool. (yes generalizing and overestimating) but by far the majority of people I see in Jeeps here in Colorado have zero care for a Land Cruiser or even know what one is.That's where the appropriate marketing comes in. No one can claim to have more history and experience in overland than Toyota, but most Anericans are ignorant of this. Market it appropriately, and this includes price point, and people will buy it.Have you seen the people who buy the jeep truck thing?
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
Look I'm as Land Cruiser centric as anyone but I'm not sure that's a completely accurate statement. Land Rovers go back to 1948, Patrols to 1951 (same as Land Cruiser), and of course the love it -hate it Jeep to around 1941 in one form or another. It clearly wasn't just Land Cruisers that ruled the middle east, Africa, and Australia back in the day.
Again, the 70 series would need a lot of redesign to meet DOT requirements and a diesel is a total non-starter so even if they did redesign, build and import the 70 series it would be petrol only.
A new 79 series in KSA costs between $35k and $40K depending on configuration. I have driven them and while I will never sell my FZJ75 I am not sure I would buy one vs a TRD Offroad Tacoma if I had to drive one every day for more than 10 miles a day - but I'm old.
Edit: Interesting stats. Considerably more Land Rovers produced than Land Cruisers until around 1975. After that they clearly went in opposite directions. I couldn't find similar figures for the Patrol handy.
Land Cruiser by the Numbers | HISTORY | Land Cruiser Special Website | Exclusive Product Stories | Toyota Brand | Mobility | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website
Since the launch of the first-generation Toyota Jeep BJ in 1951 up to 2019, cumulative global sales have surpassed 10 million units.
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I have owned and driven Land Rovers, too. But look at what they sell in 2021 compared to Toyota and tell me they are built for overland. Why is a diesel a nonstarter? Look at how many cars and small trucks are going to diesels in the US now.Look I'm as Land Cruiser centric as anyone but I'm not sure that's a completely accurate statement. Land Rovers go back to 1948, Patrols to 1951 (same as Land Cruiser), and of course the love it -hate it Jeep to around 1941 in one form or another. It clearly wasn't just Land Cruisers that ruled the middle east, Africa, and Australia back in the day.
Again, the 70 series would need a lot of redesign to meet DOT requirements and a diesel is a total non-starter so even if they did redesign, build and import the 70 series it would be petrol only.
A new 79 series in KSA costs between $35k and $40K depending on configuration. I have driven them and while I will never sell my FZJ75 I am not sure I would buy one vs a TRD Offroad Tacoma if I had to drive one every day for more than 10 miles a day - but I'm old.
Edit: Interesting stats. Considerably more Land Rovers produced than Land Cruisers until around 1975. After that they clearly went in opposite directions. I couldn't find similar figures for the Patrol handy.
Land Cruiser by the Numbers | HISTORY | Land Cruiser Special Website | Exclusive Product Stories | Toyota Brand | Mobility | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website
Since the launch of the first-generation Toyota Jeep BJ in 1951 up to 2019, cumulative global sales have surpassed 10 million units.global.toyota
Because the automakers are pushing hybrids. Toyota says all of their models will be offered as such in the future for U.S.
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
To my knowledge Toyota doesn't make a diesel that meets US EPA standards. That is a bit of an assumption on my part but given the difficulty of meeting said standards I think I'm safe. Given that assumption and what @89GASHOG just said, it's difficult for me to imagine that Toyota would invest in developing a light truck diesel for the US market.
The Americans want a 9” info. screen full of fancy do-dads. .... the 70 Series does not have that.
The Americans want 10 cup holders that can hold a gallon of milk. .... the 70 Series does not have that.
The Americans want heated & cooled everything. ... The 70 Series does not have that. (Well my seats are fairly warm in the Summer)
With the average rear spring pack, drinking a large mocha -docha Starbucks would be nearly impossible in a 70 Series.
The Americans want 500 horsepower so the can fly down the on ramp .... Most 70 Series won’t do that. (Merging into traffic can be terrifying in a 70 Series
)
The Americans want a 10 speaker sound system ..... 70 Series have FM/AM radios.
Outside of a few enthusiast there is no market for the 70 Series in the U.S.
The Americans want 10 cup holders that can hold a gallon of milk. .... the 70 Series does not have that.
The Americans want heated & cooled everything. ... The 70 Series does not have that. (Well my seats are fairly warm in the Summer)
With the average rear spring pack, drinking a large mocha -docha Starbucks would be nearly impossible in a 70 Series.
The Americans want 500 horsepower so the can fly down the on ramp .... Most 70 Series won’t do that. (Merging into traffic can be terrifying in a 70 Series
)The Americans want a 10 speaker sound system ..... 70 Series have FM/AM radios.
Outside of a few enthusiast there is no market for the 70 Series in the U.S.
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Even if they put a gasoline engine into it because American Japanese car manufacturers are allergic to diesel, I don’t think that thing meets any recent crash safety requirements.
I was wondering that if they only sold the pick up version could they get around some of those regulations?
I was wondering that if they only sold the pick up version could they get around some of those regulations?
I read a while ago that the single cab pickup is the only model in the lineup with more than 2 airbags, since the Australian mining companies were pressuring Toyota for better safety specs. For sure none of the other models would come close to meeting US crash regulations, and the problem with just bringing in a pickup is that they would get charged a 25% tariff on it unless it was manufactured in the US.
AussieHJCruza
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The single cab got an upgrade for MY17 to get it to 5-Star ANCAP, some fairly major changes. The full range got ESP etc at that time as well.
I guess thats why I see values on the 80 series climbing so fast. Popularity of off roading and "overlanding" has created a demand for these types of trucks. The 80 here in the US is probably the closest thing we have to that platform. Solid front axle, tripled locked and decent road manners is hard to beat. Sure, theyre a little underpowered but so are those diesels. Once you get everything baselined you'll have a very reliable and capable truck for exploring.
Hello,The Americans want a 9” info. screen full of fancy do-dads. .... the 70 Series does not have that.
The Americans want 10 cup holders that can hold a gallon of milk. .... the 70 Series does not have that.
The Americans want heated & cooled everything. ... The 70 Series does not have that. (Well my seats are fairly warm in the Summer)
With the average rear spring pack, drinking a large mocha -docha Starbucks would be nearly impossible in a 70 Series.
The Americans want 500 horsepower so the can fly down the on ramp .... Most 70 Series won’t do that. (Merging into traffic can be terrifying in a 70 Series
The Americans want a 10 speaker sound system ..... 70 Series have FM/AM radios.
Outside of a few enthusiast there is no market for the 70 Series in the U.S.
These are the reasons why the 70 Series never made it to the US in a nutshell.
Back in the day, the 4 Runner could do what the 40 Series could, with more creature comforts. Or so it seemed to Toyota, in my view. Therefore they never introduced the 70 Series in the US.
Safety requirements complicated things even further. Lack of airbags, ABS and safety bumpers forced the Defender out of the American market in the late 1990s. 70 Series received compliant bumpers just in 2007, and airbags in 2010.
This not to mention the fate of BJ70 sales in Canada, which stopped by 1987 I think.
Juan
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JDM Journeys
Moderator
I think there's more of a chance of getting an electrified 70 series for road going use in North America than any of the current gas or diesel models. Mining companies are already beginning to put these in service... Obviously not on the road.
But I still agree with others that (even electrified) the chances of us getting a Can/US legal "new" 70 are infinitesimal.
But I still agree with others that (even electrified) the chances of us getting a Can/US legal "new" 70 are infinitesimal.
Toyota can’t sell the 70 series in the US. It won’t meet our crash safety standards. The engine won’t meet our emissions standards. It is only available with a manual transmission which would greatly limit sales in the US (95% of vehicles in the US are sold with automatic transmissions). The interior is cramped and noisy. it has solid axles front and back, with the rear having leaf springs. As a result, ride is terrible. Articulation in the rear is poor due to the leaf springs. I suspect it doesn’t have our sophisticated ATRAC, which means lockers are a must. The rear axle has a narrower track than the front axle, so it is very squirrelly on sand unless you replace the rear axle to widen the track ($$$).
In short, the 70 series makes a Wrangler look refined and luxurious. Most folks wouldn’t want one if they actually drove one.
In short, the 70 series makes a Wrangler look refined and luxurious. Most folks wouldn’t want one if they actually drove one.
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