Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series arrives in Oz

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has arrived in Australia, ahead of its official launch set for October.

Several videos of the all-new 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport cruising around in Victoria have been posted – despite COVID-19 lockdown restrictions – which all but confirms that the rugged flagship variant will be offered at launch.

Toyota Australia is holding off announcing full pricing and specifications for the local market until August, but the Instagram posts by Land.Cruiser.300 proves that the GR Sport model has already landed.

Pricing is expected to rise by between $6000 and $8000 for most model grades, but the Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport is still an unknown quantity.

It’s likely to be one of the more expensive models given its expected array of off-road upgrades.

As a guide, the LC300 is set to start at around $90,000 plus on-road costs for base-spec models and top out at around $140,000 plus ORCs.

In Australia, the iconic 4x4 off-roader will be powered exclusively by a downsized 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine (227kW/700Nm), but it generates more power and torque than the V8 turbo-diesel it replaces.

The new LC300 will also retain the diesel V8’s 3.5-tonne towing capacity and will be offered with a 10-speed automatic transmission with dual-range.

In addition to the new V6 turbo-diesel, Toyota also offers a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine (305kW/650Nm) that may be offered in Australia in future. A hybrid powertrain will also be available in due course.

In the local footage, the black Toyota LandCruiser, which appears to have been undertaking testing on dirt and gravel roads, is fitted with side steps, roof racks and a bull bar.

GR Sport models are fitted with different wheels and tyres to regular versions of the LandCruiser 300 Series, designed to deliver better off-road capability, along with a redesigned front bumper for a better approach angle and what appears to be a slightly increased ride height.

The all-new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series made its global debut in Dubai last month and has generated a huge amount of interest in Australia.

The new exterior design doesn’t stray too far from the 200 Series LandCruiser, which has been selling like hotcakes in the lead-up to its retirement, with dealers and private sellers asking – and attaining – outrageous prices.

Based on an all-new platform, dubbed TNGA-F, the new LC300 will bring about big improvements in technology and driver assistance systems, safety and refinement, while maintaining its trademark go-anywhere off-roading abilities.

The same ladder-frame platform will also underpin the upcoming Toyota Tundra launching soon and next-gen Toyota HiLux, due around 2025.