In addition to introducing a mild hybrid version of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (250 Series), the Japanese automaker also announced the new Land Cruiser Commercial. The new halo model in the Toyota Professional range of light commercial vehicles is essentially a 250 Series that prioritises cargo space over passengers.
Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston production facility in Derbyshire is responsible for the conversion process, which involves taking a regular 250 Series and removing its rear seats. Interior steel panel inserts and a full-height metal bulkhead with a mesh top section are also installed to render the rear opaque.
The company says this results in a load space measuring 1,090 mm high, 1,685 mm long and a maximum 1,286 mm wide, which provides a cargo capacity (VDA measurement) of up to 2,000 litres. Users can also tow loads up to 3.5 tonnes.
The previous Land Cruiser sold in Europe was also offered as a commercial vehicle, but its successor takes things up a notch with better equipment. These include 18-inch alloys, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, a powered tailgate with opening window hatch, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, an electronic parking brake, dual-zone climate control, a nine-inch touchscreen head unit, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support as well as a Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite.
Under the bonnet, the Commercial packs a 2.8 litre inline-four turbodiesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive system. Off-road driving systems include Crawl Control, Hill-start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control, and there are selectable drive modes. Toyota says it will offer a mild hybrid powertrain from the Land Cruiser Hybrid 48V at a later date.
“Positioned at the top of the Toyota Professional range, it provides an attractive option to customers who do not require the load-carrying capabilities or additional seats of the Hilux pick-up, but want the benefits of serious off-road performance, on-road poise and a wealth of comfort, safety and convenience features as standard,” the company said in its release.
The Land Cruiser Commercial will go on sale from August 1 for 51,729 pounds (about RM298k), with deliveries starting from September. The on-the-road price is less than the Land Rover Defender Hard Top 110 that serves the same purpose but retails for more at 66,566 pounds (RM384k).
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