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By
EWAN KENNEDY
15 October 2007
Australia is an immensely important market for Toyota, and none of its
models is more important than the LandCruiser. So it came as a surprise
to no one that the Australian International Motor Show (better known as
the Sydney motor show) was the chosen venue for the World motor show
premiere of its new LandCruiser 200 Series.
Or perhaps it did come as a surprise – because Frankfurt, the
world’s largest motor show, and Tokyo, Toyota's home base, were
both anxious to display the new LandCruiser. But Australia put up
the best argument and the local guys proudly unveiled their new
model to the public at Sydney's Darling Harbour precinct at a
purpose built 4WD track.
LandCruiser 200 Series has a softer look than the 100 Series.
The world has changed in the last few years and big, tough looking
4WDs aren't acceptable to everyone. Not that the 200 Series has
gone too far, it’s still pretty bold in its looks and is sure to
impress existing owners with that big grille and standout guards.
And the 200 Series is most certainly not soft under the skin.
The big LandCruisers have made their reputation for almost 50
years in Australia by being genuine vehicles that can handle the
rough stuff year in and year out without flinching. Nothing has
changed.
The latest suspension system has a lot of Australian work in it
and promises big articulation angles, while it retains the ability
to give a good on-road ride. A special electronic ‘crawl mode’
has been developed for the harshest off-road running. We look
forward to putting all these new features through their paces
during the national press launch of the LC200 in early November.
LandCruiser 200 will be powered by an improved version of the
existing 4.7-litre petrol V8, or by a new twin-turbo diesel
powerplant that’s similar to the one we sampled recently in the
latest LandCruiser 70 Series workhorse wagon.
Incidentally, Toyota, in its usual modest fashion, is billing
its new LandCruiser as, "The Earth’s Greatest 4WD"!
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Marque Publishing Company
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