Toyota Australia today revealed a pre-production five-door LandCruiser Prado, the fourth version of Australia's most popular medium SUV for the past ten years.
Toyota Australia unveiled the vehicle in tandem with the vehicle's debut in Japan and Frankfurt.
New Prado is due to go on sale in Australia in November.
It will feature new styling, improved performance and a raft of driver-assist technologies.
New Prado is slightly longer and wider than the previous model.
Prado's four-litre V6 petrol engine adopts dual VVT-i, with power increased by more than 10 per cent, as
well as improvements in torque, fuel economy and emissions.
Prado will have new technologies available across the range to enhance the driving experience for both practised and novice off-roaders.
Toyota Australia's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner says fourth-generation Prado continues LandCruiser's reputation for being robust and virtually indestructible.
"Australia is the fourth-largest LandCruiser market," Mr Buttner said.
"More than 150,000 LandCruiser Prados are expected to be on the road by the end of the year.
"Prado's success can be attributed to its blend of impressive off-road capabilities, inherent in its LandCruiser DNA, with everyday utility and comfort.
"LandCruiser Prado has continuously evolved to satisfy diverse customer needs - and fourth-generation Prado will accelerate that trend.
"It has a pedigree stretching back more than 50 years and is fundamental to Toyota's reputation of quality, durability and reliability," said Mr Buttner.
More than 90 per cent of customers use Prado for weekly on-road driving.
Toyota is increasingly bridging
the gap between a capable off-roader and a passenger car.
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NEW PRADO GETS STYLISH
The revised styling of new Toyota Prado has resulted in a vehicle which appears more aggressive and which features improved aerodynamics.
Toyota Prado is slightly larger - 80mm longer, 10mm wider and 15mm lower - giving new Prado a wide, planted stance.
The lower overall height contributes to improved aerodynamics, with the drag coefficient cut from 0.37 to 0.35.
Aerodynamic aids include front and rear spoilers, front spats, under-body covers and deflectors.
A three-dimensional vertical grille has evolved from the current model, giving an increased sense of depth and texture.
Cylindrical high-beam headlamps and projector type low-beam headlamps complement the three-dimensional profile of the clearance and turn signal lamps.
The high position of the grille and headlamps combine with the outwardly extended turn signals to create a wide, distinctively LandCruiser-like Prado face.
From the side view, the belt line is higher and the cowl has been moved forward to provide maximum interior space.
The sharply trimmed lower section of the bumpers makes the overhangs look shorter, for a more agile image.
The door mirrors have integrated LED indicators.
The rear combination lamps also use LEDs, which activate more quickly than conventional lamps.
A body-coloured rear spoiler houses the rear window wiper.
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NEW PRADO WILL HAVE IMPRESSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
New Toyota Prado's enhanced driveability and technologies will make it more accessible to everyday drivers, while retaining its off-road credentials.
Special attention to handling, stability and ride comfort have raised Prado to new levels of user compatibility.
Toyota has upgraded the vehicle's four-litre V6 petrol engine to include dual VVT-i - variable valve timing - on both the inlet and exhaust camshafts.
The petrol engine delivers more than 10 per cent extra power, as
well as improved torque, fuel economy and emissions.
The turbo-diesel engine has also been improved, resulting in fuel economy better than nine litres per 100km* and a low CO2 figure.
Seven airbags will be standard, as will vehicle stability control and traction control.
New state-of-the-art driving technologies are presented as an evolution of LandCruiser
heritage.
Specification is still being finalised for Australia.
Prado will feature some of the electronic aids developed for Toyota's passenger cars.
The goal is to take Prado's off-road prowess to new levels.