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SAFETY UPDATES ASSURE FUTURE FOR ICONIC WORKHORSE
** LandCruiser 70 Series celebrates 30 years in Australia **
Toyota has marked 30 years of selling the iconic LandCruiser 70 Series range in Australia by announcing plans for significant improvements to safety.
The updates, due to arrive in the second half of next year, are designed to deliver the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating for the sales-leading 70 Series single cab.
All 70 Series variants - single and double cabs, wagon and troop carrier - will be equipped with vehicle stability control, brake assist and cruise control.
Single cabs will also gain five more airbags as part of the improvements - front-
seat side (two), curtain-shield (two) and driver's knee.
Driver and front-passenger airbags were made standard across the range in 2009 with anti-skid brakes added in 2012.
Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the updates represent a major breakthrough that will reinforce the position of LandCruiser as Toyota's heartland vehicle in Australia.
"These updates will support continued strong buyer demand for an unapologetically rugged vehicle that is renowned for its heavy-duty capabilities," Mr Cramb said.
"It secures the future of the 70 Series for customers who require a vehicle with an unrivalled reputation for class-leading mechanical reliability and serious towing, load carrying and off-road performance," he said.
"Added safety features build on LandCruiser's 'always get you
home' ethos and will be highly valued by people who rely on the 70 Series in harsh and remote work environments around Australia.
"We have worked closely with employers in mining, agriculture, construction, communications support and
recreation to develop these improvements.
"Toyota's commitment to them - as
well as to the towns, rural communities and work sites where the LandCruiser's reputation was born - will further cement the unique bond with customers forged over the past 30 years."
Since the 70 Series first landed here in 1985, Australians have bought more than 250,000 vehicles.
LandCruiser is Toyota's longest-running nameplate with its origins going back to the BJ of 1951. The 4WD vehicle was renamed LandCruiser in 1954.
In Australia, one of the first LandCruiser customers was construction magnate Leslie (later Sir Leslie) Thiess, who bought several for use on the rugged construction trails of the
Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme.
The early predecessors of LandCruiser 70 Series - the FJ25, FJ45 and FJ43 - came to define Toyota as a leader in developing rugged off-road vehicles that Australians would come to rely on and respect.
During its 30-year life, the 70 Series has been progressively upgraded with features such as direct-injection turbo-diesel technology, coil front springs and even Bluetooth® connectivity.
Even so, it continues with the attributes that have made it such a versatile off-road vehicle - a tough box-section chassis, simple part-time 4WD system with two-speed transfer, lockable hubs, excellent low-range gearing, long-range fuel tanks and excellent ground clearance.
These features, combined with ample approach, ramp-over and departure angles, enable the 70 Series vehicles to traverse rugged roads and obstacles that are beyond the capabilities of other vehicles.
Today's LandCruiser 70 Series models are powered by a 32-valve 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel engine with common-rail direct injection and an intercooler. It delivers 151kW of power at 3400rpm and peak torque of 430Nm from just 1200rpm all the way to 3200rpm - the flattest torque curve among all of Toyota's engines.
Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series initially included short-wheelbase variants; however, the uninterrupted 70 Series begins with the military-style long-wheelbase (LWB) 75 Series in 1985.
Workhorse LWB was first offered with overhead-valve straight-six petrol and diesel engines, the latter updated in 1989 with a new overhead-cam 4.2-litre (1HZ) diesel engine.
This engine was part of a new-generation Toyota diesel family and manufactured in a purpose-built factory, which was hermetically sealed and pressurised to exclude dust.
Petrol 70 Series models were upgraded in 1993 with an all-new 4.5-litre double overhead camshaft 24-valve straight-six engine, the 1FZ-FE. Both engines were matched to five-speed manual transmissions.
A major upgrade in 1999 with the 10-model 78 Series featured the adoption of coil-spring rigid-axle front
suspension and large front brakes from the 100 Series wagon, as
well as longer rear leaf springs.
The new
suspension, coupled with an increase in wheelbase and track, significantly improved ride, stability, space and comfort in single cabs.
The 78 Series also heralded engine and transmission improvements, improved seats and the first designated 'recreational' model, the diesel six-
seat RV troop carrier.
Two years later, 78 Series was boosted again with a new 4.2-litre turbocharged, direct-injection diesel engine, which brought electronic fuel injection to the diesel range and delivered a then class-topping 380Nm of torque.
Five turbo-diesel models were offered, alongside petrol and naturally aspirated diesel Cab/Chassis models, and a diesel Troop Carrier. A new front
suspension calibration improved steering response.
March 2007 brought new front-end styling and two more firsts for LandCruiser 70 Series with the launch of Toyota's first V8 turbo-diesel engine and the first wagon variant.
The 4.5-litre 1VD-FTV turbo diesel was initially exclusive to the Australian market and powered every model. It had high-pressure common-rail direct injection and an intercooler, boosting power by almost 25 per cent over the previous straight-six turbo diesel.
Workhorse LandCruiser received further updates in August 2009, including better passive safety equipment and more generous standard features including telescopic steering-wheel adjustment and Bluetooth® connectivity.
Source:
TOYOTA