TRD Pro's are very american with those huge wheels... i bet LC200 will get something like sport version internationally. Fun fact, there are official Toyota kits for sand, that improve approach angle, which is probably what is needed the most. Same for Prado.
Otherwise, about some huge conceptual changes to the vehicle, i dont really get that part since both LC200 and LC150 sell like crazy worldwide - annual sales are around 400,000 units per year.
🙂 Well...I don't remember mentioning that aloud, but I'm very forgetful with short term lol.
The next TLC...well the current one sells terribly stateside. That has to change, so they can no longer just ship over a semi-full spec TLC and charge markup for it.
They charge too much for a vehicle that cannot even be bought with every single option available in a global 200.
The buyer base for USA wants something more dedicated I imagine, as the LX and TLC cannibalize each other.
Since the FJ60 and 80, they have been gradually taking an upmarket ascent with the full size model. A lot of folks are ignorant of the reality of what these vehicles really meant in the 1960s.
They were not called "4x4s" or SUVs. They were raised family wagons with 4WD. Some were shared with trucks like the Chevrolet Suburban. Others were basically a traditional BOF wagon lifted up and taller body to keep things symmetrical.
The death of the FJ40 in 1984 never meant the Land Cruiser "died" like a lot diehards try and espouse as fact. It came in multiple versions simply, family utility 50-Series and compact FJ40. Post 1984, 70 replaced it and 60-Series carried the nameplate, then others as well from 1990s as the full size became more elevated.
(If Lexus existed in 1966, the 50-Series would've launched as a Lexus and not a Toyota Land Cruiser.)
The Sequoia killed US TLC sales from 2001-on (arrived 2000), as seen by 2001 CY sales in USA.
Many affluent families who lived and died by Toyota in the 90s, bought the 100 because it was the biggest and best Toyota offered.
The less aware from 2000-on, settled for the Sequoia as some substitute or as an alternative, so they wouldn't have to go American nameplate.
Anecdotally, the small bubble I grew up with of affluent immigrant professionals, only went Land Cruiser pre-2000. Being ignorant of the J100 benefits, a lot them skipped LC and went Sequoia as early as autumn 2000 or LX470.
Over time, the Sequoias didn't hold up as long as those who wisely kept their 100s. LX470 owners went 570 or GX460.
In 1999, the 100 was tops across the board. Top notch interior and technology to boot. (No longer the case)
The only competition was the Range Rover P38A stateside and ultra expensive Europa Geländewagen at $120k.
The early 2000s brought new problems, as the X5 4.4i & 4.8i started arriving in volume, Escalade was redesigned, G-Class became MBUSA official in 2001, new L322 Range Rover took luxury to higher heights, Navigator improved, and Porsche came to market.
Mid-2000s were even worse, with more premium large utilies coming on deck.
The Land Cruiser become a prestige nameplate in the early 80s, which ironically resembled the upcoming 4-door Range Rover in profile before its own 1981 debut (previously 2dr).
Take a trip back to 1980 and tell me if any other 4-door 4WD wagon looked this modern and tasteful against the 2-door Range Rover. Toyota was ambitious as heck. If only Lexus already existed...
The 80-Series made it the darling daily driver and chauffeured ute of many high profile individuals globally in the 1990s and the 100 was meant to further feed that market. King Kong in tux.
The long model runs are also probably because Toyota doesn't breakeven until 6/8ths through the model life. BMW keeps it at 5/8ths.
The 2 generation experiment to make the Land Cruiser solely an elite vehicle in all aspects in USA, failed long term and they might be going back to basics.
I imagine it will be more halo model than luxurious flagship. Not because I said so, but someone else said so.
The idea to evolve the seemingly successful 100 series into a much fancier and more robust vehicle per 200 wasn't the right business case for the United States. Hindsight is 20/20.
They learned, now they can regroup and figure out what needs to be done.
Going forward, the vehicle needs to be more specialized, because people who buy these things would rather just go for the Lexus dealer experience and badge.
The focus on the change in product, is likely because of what they feel US buyers will pay for.
The new problem is does this cannibalize the 4Runner? I guess we have to see what actually happens.
The Land Cruiser nameplate has never left the United States because it was the first successful product in United States that allowed for the viable importation of Corona, Corolla, and Cressida nameplates, which gave way to also Camry, Avalon, and RAV4.
Motor Trend's writer Jonny Lieberman claims it will be discontinued stateside. Well, some of us have heard different. Just the same as BS I've heard about the Bronco programs, which I know well enough about to dismiss from obtuse media.
