Toyota confirms future of V8-powered Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, but is the new four-cylinder version the future of the famed off-roader?

Toyota has announced it will re-open orders for the V8-powered LandCruiser 70 Series, but not until it has managed to cut down the waiting times for the iconic ute. But in the meantime, the new four-cylinder turbo-diesel variant of the 39-year-old has arrived in Australia.

Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, said the updated 2024 LandCruiser 70 Series has been designed to extend the vehicles lifespan for the indefinite future and it will remain a part of the line-up for as long as sales remain strong.

Asked how long the rugged off-road range, which includes the LC79 utes, LC78 Troop Carrier and LC76 Wagon, will continue to be sold, Hanley said "indefinitely."

Read More About Toyota Landcruiser

2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series pricing and features confirmed: Four-cylinder turbo-diesel now on the menu as wait for V8 continues 'Not too late for the V8': Why the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series will launch with a four-cylinder engine before V8 return Why the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series is an overhyped and overrated 4WD | Opinion

"We certainly have no plans to drop LandCruiser 79 at all," the Toyota chief said. "I'd hate to think that anybody thinks for one minute that we'd stop bringing these cars to market in Australia, that would be totally incorrect."

Changes for 2024 include the introduction of the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the HiLux ute, along with its six-speed automatic transmission as well as a new front-end design and changes to the cabin.

However, while the new four-cylinder is available to customers now, the order books for the 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel option remain closed for now. The current waitlist for the 70 Series range reportedly stretches beyond 12 months and Hanley indicated he would like to get that figure significantly reduced before any new orders are taken.

Toyota has announced it will re-open orders for the V8-powered LandCruiser 70 Series.

Hanley says initially Toyota Australia is expecting a 70/30 per cent split in favour of the V8 but he believes over time, as customers experience the benefits of the four-cylinder and automatic, it will change to a 50/50 split.

In fact, he believes that the only reason customers would opt for the V8 over the four-cylinder, despite the former having less torque, higher fuel economy and a five-speed manual gearbox, is the mental and sentimental issues.

"In my humble opinion, so it's not necessarily right, the only thing preventing a V8 person going to a four-cylinder would be a psychological barrier," Hanley said. "Once they drive a four-cylinder and realise its capability, I don't think it will be a hard sell at all."

While the new four-cylinder is available to customers now, the order books for the 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel option remain closed for now.

However, what Hanley made clear is that there are no plans to drop the V8 engine anytime soon, with the only concern for its longevity being any potential changes to emissions regulations. If the Federal Government eventually mandates reduced emissions as part of its target for the automotive industry, that could put the ageing V8 engine at risk.

"We have no end date for V8," he said. "What we do know is we've got a whole bunch of new regulations coming."

He added: "We will always operate within the regulatory environment. The good news is by having this four-cylinder out right now, there is no compromise on its capability, it does reduce its CO2, it meets Euro5 emissions standards for us... and, like I said, it's no compromise. But we have no end date on V8 and our first priority is to exhaust a fair significant order bank."

What Hanley made clear is that there are no plans to drop the V8 engine anytime soon, with the only concern for its longevity being any potential changes to emissions regulations.