Toyota LandCruiser Sahara Horizon revealed

As momentum builds towards the hotly-anticipated new-generation Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, a swansong flagship special-edition model has been revealed to send off the ever-popular SUV in style.

Limited to just 400 units and due to reach showrooms in March 2021, the LC200 Toyota LandCruiser Sahara Horizon is priced $7500 upstream of the top-shelf Sahara at $131,896 plus on-road costs.

A few extra lashings of luxury are applied both inside and out, with the Horizon readily identified by its unique dark grille treatment, black headlight surrounds and smoked chrome fog light trim, while the cabin has premium black semi-aniline leather-accented seats with unique stitching and ‘LandCruiser’ embossed into the back rests.

The LandCruiser logo is also integrated into the front and rear puddle lamps, giving an extra unique touch to Toyota’s large V8 diesel-powered 4x4 off-road wagon that is set to undergo a dramatic transformation with the new-generation LC300 that is also ‘on the horizon’ after hitting final development delays this year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the anticipated changes ahead is a switch to smaller-capacity oil-burning engines – reportedly a 3.3-litre V6, with a four-cylinder version of similar capacity also mooted but not on the agenda for the Australian market.

This means the LC200 Horizon could be the final LandCruiser available with the mighty 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel (200kW/650Nm).

Expectation that the big V8 is about to be retired could be partly behind the fact that Toyota LandCruiser sales are currently booming – around 3000 of them were sold last month alone – while the other obvious reason is that international travel restrictions due to COVID-19 have prompted Australians to shift their focus to domestic holidays and touring.

As carsales has reported, company officials have promised that the new-generation Toyota LandCruiser will continue to offer the same, if not better, key attributes in areas such as towing, off-roading and all-round capability – no matter which powertrains are found under the bonnet.

A rock-crushing Toyota GR LandCruiser 300 Series performance model is also believed to be in the frame.

In announcing the new Toyota LC200 Horizon special-edition, Toyota Australia's sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley said: “As Australia’s best-selling upper-large SUV, there is no shortage of LandCruisers out there and the new Horizon special-edition offers customers an enhanced visually distinctive appeal.

“With its bespoke styling and premium ambience, the Horizon special-edition is equally at home for an elegant night out in the city as it is crossing the Simpson desert,” he said.

Other standard comfort and convenience features found on the LC200 Toyota LandCruiser Sahara Horizon include power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, four-zone climate control, smart entry and start, multi-terrain monitor, premium audio system with a 9.0-inch touch-screen display, rear seat DVD player and satellite navigation.