Rumor: Toyota Land Cruiser diesel may debut in Canada for MY2009

[Sulu]

According to an unofficial source who may have previewed some upcoming promotional materials, it looks like the diesel-powered version of Toyota's off-road brute may be landing in North America this fall... Unfortunately for Americans, it appears that only our northern neighbors will access to the compression ignition Land Cruiser for now since they are not subject to Tier 2 Bin 5 standards. However, a cleaner version of this engine should arrive stateside for use in the Sequioa and Tundra about a year from now. According to our source the new V8 is rated at 280hp and 520lb-ft of torque. The fuel mileage of the diesel Land Cruiser is expected to be about 22.4mpg, which makes it comparable to the Chevy Tahoe hybrid...

Source: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05...da-for-my2009/

[EvoFire]

520lb-ft wow......

The Land Cruiser is basically the same thing as the LX right? Which means its HUGE? Which means offroad fans still don't get their nimble diesel Toyota?

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

520lb-ft wow......

The Land Cruiser is basically the same thing as the LX right? Which means its HUGE? Which means offroad fans still don't get their nimble diesel Toyota?

Yeah, the Land Cruiser is the big brute that is the basis for the Lexus LX 570. Perhaps Toyota is testing the market by first introducing a diesel option in the Land Cruiser in Canada; if they think that there may be a large enough market for diesel 4Runners, Tacomas, Tundras and Sequoias, they may introduce them.

Toyota is very cautious and will not introduce a feature (or a vehicle) unless it believes that it can be profitable. Toyota probably can sell a diesel Land Cruiser in Canada for a profit (or at least a very minimal loss), so it is doing so. The Land Cruiser is probably seen as a premium vehicle in Canada, so the extra cost of the diesel option will not hurt potential sales too much. So, if a diesel 4Runner or Tundra cannot be sold at a low enough price and still be profitable, it will not be available. That is also the reason that Toyota does not sell station wagons in North America.

[Tideland Prius]

I'm sure that diesel will filter down to the 4Runner. It only makes sense but like most things, start at the top and let the wealthy lead the way haha.

[EvoFire]

I find it somewhat of a waste of the diesel. Not that many people will care for a diesel or not when they buy a Land Cruiser. And seriously for the price of the Land Cruiser, most will probably opt for the more luxury biased Sequoia no?

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

I find it somewhat of a waste of the diesel. Not that many people will care for a diesel or not when they buy a Land Cruiser. And seriously for the price of the Land Cruiser, most will probably opt for the more luxury biased Sequoia no?

Depends... those looking for a 4Runner-based vehicle to go off-road might be inclined to spend a bit more on a base diesel LC to get better torque and even higher ground clearance.

My friend has an M-Class and we took it off-roading. It worked brilliantly and we didn't even need to engage L or even low-range 4WD. We crossed trenches deep and narrow enough that some actually scraped the plastic underneath the car but it survived. The only problem? It guzzled a LOT of fuel and it was only the base ML320, not the V8.

[akira751]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Depends... those looking for a 4Runner-based vehicle to go off-road might be inclined to spend a bit more on a base diesel LC to get better torque and even higher ground clearance.

My friend has an M-Class and we took it off-roading. It worked brilliantly and we didn't even need to engage L or even low-range 4WD. We crossed trenches deep and narrow enough that some actually scraped the plastic underneath the car but it survived. The only problem? It guzzled a LOT of fuel and it was only the base ML320, not the V8.

Sorry no 4runner diesel in the works but also look Tundra and Sequoia diesels coming soon.

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

I find it somewhat of a waste of the diesel. Not that many people will care for a diesel or not when they buy a Land Cruiser. And seriously for the price of the Land Cruiser, most will probably opt for the more luxury biased Sequoia no?

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Depends... those looking for a 4Runner-based vehicle to go off-road might be inclined to spend a bit more on a base diesel LC to get better torque and even higher ground clearance.

My friend has an M-Class and we took it off-roading. It worked brilliantly and we didn't even need to engage L or even low-range 4WD. We crossed trenches deep and narrow enough that some actually scraped the plastic underneath the car but it survived. The only problem? It guzzled a LOT of fuel and it was only the base ML320, not the V8.

The Toyota Land Cruiser, like the Land Rover Defender, is a legend in its own right, and those who worship Toyota off-road vehicles would likely see the Sequoia as a poseur, a fake that was built only to be a competitor to the Ford Expedition and GM's Suburban/Tahoe/... large, truck-based station wagons (and not off-road vehicles). (The Toyota FJ Cruiser may be compared to the MINI and Volkswagen's New Beetle as modern interpretations of classic, legendary vehicles, in Toyota's case, its FJ40 Land Cruiser.) Defined this way, I can see the Land Cruiser not selling too many models, but the diesel model doing relatively well as an option, and as Tideland Prius said, may be shopped by those looking for a true off-road-capable vehicle and willing to pay for better ability because of the incredible torque.

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by Sulu

The Toyota Land Cruiser, like the Land Rover Defender, is a legend in its own right, and those who worship Toyota off-road vehicles would likely see the Sequoia as a poseur, a fake that was built only to be a competitor to the Ford Expedition and GM's Suburban/Tahoe/... large, truck-based station wagons (and not off-road vehicles). (The Toyota FJ Cruiser may be compared to the MINI and Volkswagen's New Beetle as modern interpretations of classic, legendary vehicles, in Toyota's case, its FJ40 Land Cruiser.) Defined this way, I can see the Land Cruiser not selling too many models, but the diesel model doing relatively well as an option, and as Tideland Prius said, may be shopped by those looking for a true off-road-capable vehicle and willing to pay for better ability because of the incredible torque.

While yes, I agree that the Land Cruiser has a great and colorful history as a highly competent offroading machine, the sorry state of modernizing cars has gotten to it just like it did to the old and trusty Toyota pickup. It just simply got too big and has grown out of its class. Being the same machine as the LX570, I've seen the LX, its a HUGE machine and I definitely won't expect it to be maneuverable in bad terrain.

Right now as I see it, its just simply another huge machine with a historical name hung on the tailgate, and completely tarnishing that name. I'll think like that until some individual comes to prove me wrong with hard facts and perhaps a detailed review by a magazine. yes true it probably has all the needed mechanics, but it still doesn't beat the fact that its huge. Reason why the Lotus Elise/Exige is successful? They stuck to the minimalist basic roots and keeping it really really small.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

While yes, I agree that the Land Cruiser has a great and colorful history as a highly competent offroading machine, the sorry state of modernizing cars has gotten to it just like it did to the old and trusty Toyota pickup. It just simply got too big and has grown out of its class. Being the same machine as the LX570, I've seen the LX, its a HUGE machine and I definitely won't expect it to be maneuverable in bad terrain.

Right now as I see it, its just simply another huge machine with a historical name hung on the tailgate, and completely tarnishing that name. I'll think like that until some individual comes to prove me wrong with hard facts and perhaps a detailed review by a magazine. yes true it probably has all the needed mechanics, but it still doesn't beat the fact that its huge. Reason why the Lotus Elise/Exige is successful? They stuck to the minimalist basic roots and keeping it really really small.

Ya it's huge. I sat in one at the autoshow... god damn why is the Sequoia even around (even though that's huge in its own right. The 4Runner parked next to it at the dealership where I saw the Sequoia looked tiny. It looked like a RAV4 to the Sequoia)

Originally Posted by Sulu

The Toyota Land Cruiser, like the Land Rover Defender, is a legend in its own right, and those who worship Toyota off-road vehicles would likely see the Sequoia as a poseur, a fake that was built only to be a competitor to the Ford Expedition and GM's Suburban/Tahoe/... large, truck-based station wagons (and not off-road vehicles). (The Toyota FJ Cruiser may be compared to the MINI and Volkswagen's New Beetle as modern interpretations of classic, legendary vehicles, in Toyota's case, its FJ40 Land Cruiser.) Defined this way, I can see the Land Cruiser not selling too many models, but the diesel model doing relatively well as an option, and as Tideland Prius said, may be shopped by those looking for a true off-road-capable vehicle and willing to pay for better ability because of the incredible torque.

mmhmm... but the question is which version of the LC will we get? There are variations of the Defender and ditto the LC. We only know the LC as the fully luxo version here but there are SWB and 2-dr versions right?

[Jeff Lange]

If Canada got a 70-series LC again, that would be the absolute coolest thing ever. If we get a diesel 200-series, that'll still be neat, but not quite the same as a 70.

Jeff

[100$ GUY]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

I find it somewhat of a waste of the diesel. Not that many people will care for a diesel or not when they buy a Land Cruiser. And seriously for the price of the Land Cruiser, most will probably opt for the more luxury biased Sequoia no?

Wealthy people here that buy the Land Cruiser at around $100k seems more than happy enough buying a diesel. Its a great diesel engine anyway.

[EvoFire]

^ You guys have more access to diesel right? In Canada here, well at least Vancouver, not every gas station is diesel capable. It may be quite a drag for some one to find a gas station that they can buy diesel from.

[Tideland Prius]

I saw some old chinese couple refuelling their E300 CDI (so the older CDI) from a truck stop in Rmd lol.

[EvoFire]

^ I don't think chinese people mind as much....