One of the greatest names synonymous with off-roading is the Toyota Land Cruiser, an SUV revered not just for its luxuries but also its off-road prowess and reliability. So much so that it is one of the favourite runners in the middle eastern market. While the Toyota Land Cruiser does not have to prove its potential in most of the Indian environments as the SUV was considered more of a luxury purchase at nearly INR 1.5 crores ex-showroom.
But as the country transitioned into the stringent BS6 emission norms the LC200’s large V8 diesel motor failed to comply with the new standard and the brand discontinued both the Toyota Land Cruiser and its entry-level Prado version with a 4-cylinder diesel engine here in the Indian market.
According to a media report, Toyota is planning to bring the iconic SUV back to the Indian market, it is not clear as of now, as to which of the two versions will be arriving or if both the Land Cruiser and the Prado will come to the Indian market but it is likely to be the 2021 facelift version which has been spotted testing, undisguised in Japan.
The 2021 facelift is likely to be the last model year in its generation as the age-old design has not been thoroughly updated and it is speculated to be badged as the ‘Final Edition’. The brand is expected to introduce the 2021 Final Edition by the end of 2021 in the international market.
The BS4 Toyota Land Cruiser namely the LC200 was powered by a 4461cc, V8 diesel motor producing 262 BHP of power and 650 Nm of torque matched to an automatic gearbox and an all-wheel-drive. The Prado came with a 2982cc 4-cylinder diesel motor producing 171 BHP of power and 410 Nm of torque matched to an automatic gearbox with AWD capability as well. If the Land Cruiser is brought back to the Indian soil it will be off course in the BS6 compliant avatar.
Unconfirmed reports have also suggested that Toyota is likely to introduce a rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza dubbed as the ‘Urban Cruiser’ in the Indian market. It is further hypothesised that the brand might have drawn the inspiration behind the name from the successful ‘Land Cruiser’ SUV, which denotes the off-roading capabilities of the new compact SUV.