The Japanese automaker is reportedly working on the next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser, which will hit the U.S. roads in 2021. According to CarAdvice, Toyota has plans to ditch V8 for a turbo V6 and even a hybrid V6. Although the car blog also mentioned a turbodiesel in the powertrains roster, that might not be a possibility in the U.S. However, a hybrid turbodiesel V6 could be a part of the lineup in Australia.
The next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser has been long due. The last generation was introduced in 2008 and after that, we never saw a major update. The current generation comes with a number of powertrains options with V8 returning a thirsty 15 mpg. The stricter emission standards in most parts of the world might not allow Toyota to produce it anymore.
While the Land Cruiser isn’t a very popular SUV in the U.S., it has been doing well in the UAE. On the other hand, the Lexus LX570 is doing great in the U.S minting good money for the automaker.
With a turbo or hybrid V6, the next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser would still be a very powerful SUV capable of conquering highways and dunes alike. In fact, it could generate more power than the V8. The new powertrains may also get a place in the next-gen Tundra, as we have heard reports of it coming with a hybrid powertrain.