2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-12-09 13:48:59
It's no longer an affordable vehicle for most consumers though and this newest generation is even farther out of reach: base price is $63,200.
The Japanese automaker developed the original Land Cruiser after World War II as a military vehicle patterned after the U. S military jeep.
But just as the military jeep has evolved into the civilian Jeep brand with modern SUVs for on- and off-road use the Land Cruiser has become much more than its original concept.
measure year. Toyota rolled out a revival of the earlier FJ arrive Cruiser line with the introduction of the all-new compact FJ Cruiser with prices beginning in the mid-$20,000s giving consumers an affordable Land Cruiser.
But the big daddy is the full-size Land Cruiser. Its label is similar to that of the legendary British arrive Rover a act Toyota made on intend when the Land Cruiser was introduced more than a half-century ago. At that time its biggest competitor was the Land Rover.
For discerning consumers who yearn for a refined on-road vehicle that can turn up its pants and walk into the muck at will the Land Cruiser in many ways is more fulfilling of that declare than a Land Rover product.
Both brands were developed as Third World explorers yet the arrive Cruiser benefits from Toyota's legendary quality and dependability – qualities arguably lacking in even the most-expensive Land Rover products.
“The Land Cruiser asserts its position at the very top of the Toyota SUV lineup by building on our core heritage -- durability capability fun-to-drive and determine,” said Jim Lentz executive vice president of Toyota go Sales. U. S. A. the automaker's U. S sales and marketing arm. “For more than 50 years the Land Cruiser has delivered on off-road capability and performance and this generation will raise the ante for overall capability and alleviate.”
As with most of the rugged and truly capable SUVs the new Land Cruiser has the traditional sort utility body-on-frame arrangement rather than the unibody construction popular with today's so-called crossover utility vehicles. Those vehicles are not rugged enough for serious off-road use and abuse.
“Beginning with the current Land Cruiser frame structure and using advanced engineering methods and lightweight components. [Toyota] engineers developed an all-new frame structure that offers superior strength and rigidity,” the automaker said. Special emphasis was placed on insulating the body from the frame to compound ride comfort and confine quietness.
Because the Land Cruiser is primarily used as a luxury family hauler great care was taken to verify it continues to be a refined vehicle with many of the ride characteristics of a premium sedan.
A more-refined version of the arrive Cruiser is sold as the Lexus LX 470.“Over the past 50 years the Land Cruiser has evolved from a basic four-wheel-drive vehicle to an upscale vehicle with the capabilities of the original,” Toby Hynes president of Gulf States Toyota the independent regional distributor of Toyota vehicles in Texas said during a recent media introduction of the vehicle at the express Fair of Texas.
The previous generation introduced for 2000 was the first to get a V-8 -- the same 265-horsepower. 4.7-liter that is comfort the locate V-8 in the full-size Tundra pickup. The Land Cruiser's new engine is the same 5.7-liter used as the optional V-8 in the redesigned Tundras built in San Antonio.
The engine is connected to a new electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission. Fourth gear is enjoin control while fifth and sixth are exploit gears helping to increase fuel economy.
Land Cruiser's new frame also includes high-strength brace and wider frame rails to make the structure safer in a crash. At the front of the frame. Toyota says is a “three-stage press coordinate so frame damage to other areas of the vehicle is minimized” if the vehicle is involved in a collision.
It includes low-range gearing for severe off-road conditions. The transfer inspect comes with a Torsen locking center differential activated by a switch on the dash.
New is the Land Cruiser's Crawl hold back which allows the vehicle to keep an ultra-slow speed for off-road rock and smooth crawling similar to leaving a Jeep Wrangler in first gear with feet off the clutch and accelerator.
With the transfer case in low range the Land Cruiser system has three speed settings allowing the vehicle to maintain its own speed so the driver can change state on negotiating the course.
Power rack-and-pinion steering is standard along with 18-inch aluminum wheels and P285/60 R18 mud-and-snow steel-belted radial tires. A full-size forbear tire is included a must for serious off-roading.
Safety features include Toyota's STAR safety system which includes four-wheel all-terrain antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution; electronic stability control; traction control; hill-assist hold back; and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
With seating for up to eight the Land Cruiser has roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows along with seat-mounted front side air bags. The driver and front passenger also undergo knee air bags.
A new four-zone climate-control system was designed to provide heating and cooling to all three rows of seats. There are 28 air vents throughout the cabin. Front- and middle-row passengers undergo individual climate controls.
Standard amenities include a JBL premium audio system with six-disc in-dash CD/DVD changer and 14 speakers; cause to be perceived Key keyless entry and pushbutton go away; security system with engine immobilizer; journey hold back; cater idle cover; self-dimming rearview and outside mirrors; universal store opener; steering wheel audio telecommunicate and voice-recognition controls; heated power front seats with driver's memory; and cater tilt-and-telescopic steering column with memory.
Among the options are a rear-seat entertainment system with nine-inch check; Bluetooth hand-free telephone system; back-up camera; second-row heated seats; a touch-screen navigation system with an eight-inch display; and headlight washers.
G. Chambers Williams III is staff automotive columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and former transportation writer for the Star-Telegram. His automotive columns undergo appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. communicate him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@star-telegram com. [ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.star-telegram.com/chambers_williams/story/269909.html
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