Japan's Singer Porsche? 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 launched for Japan; ready for Malaysia's recond market too at circa RM 300k
Sanjay · Dec 4, 2023 03:57 PM
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Sex may have sold many-a car in years past (you won't see ads like this anymore), and while we all like a little eye candy here and between, retro's the new currency. Between revived nameplates and throwback looks, this 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser '70' is the newest graduate of this school of thought.
The LC70 pictured, as it is commonly abbreviated to, was revealed earlier this year. The big news today is that it is confirmed to go on sale in Japan; bringing back the Land Cruiser 70 nameplate back to the island nation roughly 20 years since it was discontinued there.
Anyway, today's LC70 is a continuation of a model that harks back to the original LC70 that was introduced in 1984. Of course, it was updated along the way to make it continually fit for sale in the many countries that still sold it, but overall it remained quite true to the original.
2023's model however is the deepest refresh yet since 2007. It now sits on a re-engineered ladder-frame chassis, and under its square hood lies new powertrains – for Japan, this is the 204 PS/500 Nm 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre direct-injected turbodiesel paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Within its modernised-but-still-recognisable skin – with its round headlights, TOYOTA script in front, and wing-mounted mirrors – there's things like LED exterior lighting, a redesigned interior that now comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (but check out the delectable ol' school air-cond controls), is modern safety: it comes with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver aids.
It also has a part-time 4WD system, as well as an electronic differential lock, Active Traction Control (A-TRC), Stability Control, and Downhill Assist Control, among others.
Price in Japan...and hope for Malaysians
Japan only has 1 variant of the 2023 Land Cruiser 70 for now, and that's the sole, five-seater AX variant that comes in at JPY 4.8 million yen (~RM 153k).
The Prado
It's priced in between the regular Land Cruiser Prado that's priced from JPY 4.33 million (~RM 138k) for the regular version, to JPY4.84 million (~RM 154k) for the better-equipped 'L Edition'. Note that these are also 5-seater versions, with a 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine. Toyota also offers petrol-powered, 7-seater variants of the Prado too.
Having the Land Cruiser 70 in Japan already opens up an avenue for import, but how would prices pan out? The Prado L Edition, as an example, is circa RM 320k after taxes and duties, but before insurance and road tax.
Seeing as the Land Cruiser 70 is priced slightly lower in Japan, a circa RM 300k price tag in the used car market here is our hunch. The only thing that's to do is to wait, as our Open AP rules only allow reconditioned car dealers to import vehicles 1 year after the model first goes on sale.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
