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It's one of Australia's oldest ‘new' cars, but the clock is finally ticking on the unveiling, and local launch, of an all-new Toyota LandCruiser Prado, with the little sibling to the 300 Series expected to undergo some of the biggest single-generation changes in its long history.
Some big questions remain, though. Like just what will change? And when will we actually be able to see, sit in and drive it?
So we've popped on our super-sleuth hat to answer those very questions for you. This is everything we know, or think we know, about the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
Diesel dumped? What will power the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado?
This is the biggest question currently circling the new Prado, with the end of diesel edging closer and closer, which would put an end to the venerable 2.8-litre diesel the smaller LandCruiser shares with the Toyota HiLux.
But things are afoot at Toyota. For one, the brand is reportedly investigating a mild-hybrid solution for its diesel engines — apparently designed mostly as a stop gap to tide the brand over until it can launch a new HiLux — which could also appear in the Prado.
Whether that is deemed a way to extend the life of the diesel engine in the Prado, it is also becoming increasingly clear that there will be petrol, and petrol-hybrid, options offered in the new Prado, at least according to Japanese media, some of whom are quoting "sources close to the company".
Japanese publication Mag X, for example, reports that the 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine that's currently used in the Kluger, where it makes 205kW and 430Nm, will be adapted for the Prado, with the model to be renamed the Prado 250.
Then there are "company insiders" in the USA, where local media suggests the Prado will go one further, adopting the petrol-hybrid powertrain from the just-released Crown, the brand's new flagship vehicle.
While several different engine setups are available in the US-spec Crown, the one reportedly earmarked for the next-generation Prado is the Hybrid Max, which pairs a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor on the rear axle for a combined 253kW and 542Nm.
Finally, there's Japan's Best Car, which suggests the new Prado will be offered with not one, but two diesel powertrain options. The first being an electrified version of the current 2.8-litre turbo diesel, and the other being a 3.3-litre turbo diesel that would presumably dwarf the 150kW and 500Nm currently on offer in the Prado.
In the LC300, the twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre V6 produces a potent 227kW and 700Nm, though it's not clear whether the publication is referring to the same engine, a detuned version of it, or something else entirely.
So what to make of all that? Electrification is no doubt coming to the Prado, and petrol will be a requirement if the model is to launch in the USA, as rumoured. Meanwhile, Australians remain wedded to diesel, and Toyota might not be quite ready to pull that rip cord.
A 48-volt version of the current powertrain would make sense in Australia (as would a V6 turbo-diesel, but I suspect that's too much to wish for), with that engine earmarked for eventual replacement with a Hybrid Max powertrain that would outperform the diesel on both power and torque.
To find out for sure, though, you'll have to watch this space.
Dressed to thrill? What will the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado look like?
Toyota is yet to reveal any official sketches or renders, but the world's auto media seems united in the belief that the new Prado will adopt a tougher, more American-themed design language.
That's also true of the new HiLux, which is expected to closely mirror the all-new version of its American cousin, the Tacoma, which itself is expected to take its design cues from the already-launched Tundra large pick-up.
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We'd see the Prado following that same path, taking its inspiration both from the LandCruiser 300 Series, and from the new Tundra, giving all the toughest Toyotas a kind of common design theme that crosses all vehicles.
Of course, there's only so much you can do with a large off-road-focused SUV, where much of the design is centred on delivering practicality and capability, but look for the front-end design to be where Toyota flexes its creative muscles, including the (almost) certain GR Sport variant.
Due date? When will the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado launch in Australia?
The latest Japanese reports suggest the new Prado (which was tipped for a late 2023 launch) will instead debut about 12 months from now, with April 2024 earmarked as when the tough SUV will drop. But expect to see the model well before then, with Toyota expected to drip feed info, and show the vehicle itself, in the lead up to its official launch.
Bang for bucks? How much will the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado cost in Australia?
While it's impossible to offer any mega-accurate guidance on price, it's fair to say you can expect the new Prado to be more expensive than the model it replaces.
What are we basing that on? Well, we looked to the LandCruiser 300 Series versus the 200 Series it replaced for guidance.
The 300 Series introduced a broader line-up than what was offered in the 200 Series, but with it came price rises across the board, at between $7000 and $10,000 depending on the model, when compared to the closest 200 Series equivalent.
