It looks like the 14-year-old Toyota LandCruiser Prado will have to stick around for just a bit longer as a replacement reportedly won’t debut until early next year.
Despite overseas reports previously indicating the next-generation Toyota LandCruiser Prado could launch this year, it will now reportedly debut around April 2024.
According to Japanese publication Magazine X and later by Creative Trend, the new-generation model will be referred to in Japan as the LandCruiser 250 Series instead of LandCruiser Prado.
As previously speculated, the so-called Toyota LandCruiser 250 Series will reportedly adopt the company’s TNGA-F body-on-frame architecture that’s currently used by the LandCruiser 300 Series, Tundra and Sequoia. The next-gen Tacoma pickup will also reportedly use this platform.
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Current LandCruiser Prado
Magazine X reports the LandCruiser 250 Series will be available with the Kluger‘s and Lexus NX350‘s 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 198kW of power and 420Nm of torque.
It’s unclear if this turbo-petrol powertrain will replace the existing 2.7-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine available in Japan, or if it will be offered in Australia. Toyota Australia last offered a petrol Prado in 2018.
The current LandCruiser Prado is only offered locally with a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel in Australia producing 150kW and 500Nm. This powertrain will reportedly carry over to the new model with the assistance of two electric motors fed by a lithium-ion battery.
Other hybrid powertrains that have been previously speculated to power the LandCruiser 250 Series include the 2.5-litre hybrid four-cylinder from the RAV4, the turbocharged 2.4-litre hybrid four-cylinder from the Crown, as well as the twin-turbo 3.5-litre hybrid V6 from the Tundra and Sequoia.
The latter has also been indicated to make its way into the LandCruiser 300 Series.
Toyota confirmed in 2021 hybrid versions of the LandCruiser, Prado, HiLux and HiAce would be coming before 2030, and local engineers would be playing a part in development.
“We’re considering diesel hybrids, petrol hybrids… we’re looking at all forms of lowering the CO2 through multiple technologies,” Toyota Australia head of product planning Rod Ferguson told CarExpert in April 2021.
“There’s clearly differences… even in some parts of Australia whether you can access diesel or petrol. Different industries like to store fuels for other equipment that they use.
“So it’s not necessarily stating a preference for one over the other, but we’re open minded to any of those pathways for electrifying.”
The current Prado has remained popular both locally and abroad despite its age, though production was suspended in Japan at the start of the year on the back of supply chain holdups.
To date this year Toyota has sold a total of 3220 LandCruiser Prado, making it the second top-selling large SUV. It was outsold by the Isuzu MU-X (3798 sales).
