Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division, Dave Christ.
Well, hello!
How's everybody?
Welcome to, well... this is Land Cruiser heaven.
Welcome!
Tonight we have the unique opportunity to stand
among the largest collection of Land Cruisers in the world.
Curated by Greg Miller and his team.
Greg and his family were great Toyota dealers for years.
And Greg's true passion for Land Cruiser resulted in this amazing
Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City.
This collection has it all.
It's history begins with the very first 1953 Toyota BJT,
that was originally designed to rival Jeep.
And there are only six in the world.
The collections eras conclude at the 200 series Land Cruiser, Heritage Edition,
which celebrated the last generation we sold here in the US.
and there's a Land Cruiser for every enthusiast.
Including a 1958 FJ25,
the first Land Cruiser sold here in America.
A 2012 VDJ78,
the first and ONLY 4x4 truck
that has traveled on all seven continents!
We've got FJ40s, FJ60s, and FJ70s.
And not one, but two mega cruisers, right over there.
Including number 17 of 149 limited production trucks.
And it's in original factory condition.
I mean, is there a better place for hundreds of Land Cruiser enthusiasts...
to gather from all across the globe for the annual Cruiser Fest!?
No, there isn't.
This museum is only one example
of the passion and enthusiasm for Land Cruiser.
And it goes without saying that the history
and heritage on display here is truly remarkable.
It provides the perfect setting to launch the future.
As you all know,
a few years ago, we made the difficult decision
to stop selling the Land Cruiser in the US,
ending a 60 year run.
And let's just say, we heard your feedback.
We knew how passionate you were about these trucks,
but wow, some of these comments really cut deep.
We couldn't tell you then,
but we had a plan all along.
We knew Land Cruiser would return, but we wanted to do it
the right way.
So, are you ready?
Introducing the all new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.
How about it?
What do you think?
The legend returns.
It has been a long time, but I assure you it's worth the wait.
This icon belongs in our lineup.
The Land Cruiser returns to its origin,
with a retro design, paired with the legendary capability and durability it's known for.
It will take even more customers
on adventures as it has done for generations.
The all new Land Cruiser sits atop our TNGA-F, body-on-frame platform
that underpins our newest generation of rugged Toyota trucks.
And it gets better.
Land Cruiser is exclusively powered
by our i-FORCE MAX, turbocharged, four-cylinder hybrid powertrain.
It produces 326 horsepower
and a full 465 lb-ft of torque.
It's a true showstopper worthy of this nameplate.
This vehicle continues our global Beyond Zero commitment
to reduce carbon emissions by bringing electrification to all
Land Cruiser has been an off road icon
built on the foundation of Toyota's unmatched quality,
durability and reliability. And the new Land Cruiser is no different.
Every model features full-time, four-wheel drive,
a center and rear locking differential,
and our new crawl control system.
We will offer Land Cruiser in three models.
Here on my right is the 1958 model.
It pays homage to the first year
the Land Cruiser was sold here in the US.
It has the awesome round headlamps with the iconic “TOYOTA” grille,
18 inch wheels and LED fog lamps.
Here on my left is the Land Cruiser model.
This truck reminds me of the FJ62 with its sharp rectangular headlights.
But it also gets RIGID color selectable LED fog lamps
and an all-new front stabilizer bar disconnect,
for even more traction in tricky off-road situations.
Along with Multi Terrain Select
and Multi Terrain Monitor that displays on a 12.3 inch touchscreen
And for the first few months of production,
we're offering a limited run model we call the First Edition.
The First Edition takes all of Land Cruisers best features,
including the round headlights shown here on the 1958 model
and adds popular equipment like rock rails and a roof rack, all paired
with exclusive First Edition interior badging.
First Edition models will be limited
to only 5000 units in the US.
Now I can go on and on
about how excited I am about this new Land Cruiser,
but I'm most excited to announce
that Land Cruiser will now be even more accessible to our customers
with a price tag starting in the mid $50,000 range!
How about that?
Our US based CALTY Design Studio,
that has been delivering excellence for the last 50 years,
helped lead the design efforts that resulted in Land Cruiser’s
Amazing new look.
and we're able to hear tonight from Kevin Hunter, President of CALTY design,
about how the global design team brought Land Cruiser back to its origins.
Kevin, please join me.
Ladies and gentlemen, Kevin Hunter.
Well, hello, everyone.
Good evening. Thanks, Dave.
First, I have to say what a true
honor to be able to work on this project and be part of a global team
to continue the legend that is Land Cruiser.
Land Cruiser is a global icon.
It has a proven track record of being used under the harshest conditions,
while giving its occupants supreme confidence
that they will safely and reliably return from their trip.
Our design team used four key terms to lead the development.
Authentic, reliable, timeless, and professional.
Designing for true purpose has long lasting universal appeal.
And with this in mind, the all new Land Cruiser is derived from a pure expression
of form aligning with function.
And we also wanted to go back to the origin of past Land Cruisers
to restore the iconic core values,
while reconnecting to its rugged persona.
It was all about conveying a
reassuring sense of honesty and authenticity.
And the result is a refreshed balance of modern heritage
that draws influence from the FJ40 and 70 series Land Cruisers.
The chiseled design, long hood, and upright windshield
is a direct link to the 70 series tool-like durability
the boxy, yet efficient, body sits between a wide stance
with extended wheel flares to accommodate the large tires.
Along with a durable over fender for extra protection.
While the trapezoid shaped wheel openings look rugged
and have effective mud drainage.
Now, any serious overlander knows having good outward
visibility is essential for a fun and safe journey.
So we created a tall cabin
with a low beltline to enhance the side look down visibility.
The A-pillar is back while the center hood
areas scooped out to provide good forward sightline.
The front design components are organized
on a grid for easy replacement and customization,
while the headlights and radiator grille are mounted high
for added protection.
And we also beveled the corners
to minimize the effect of contact hits while off roading.
Now, the 1958 model
is a nod to the original Land Cruiser’s round headlight charm
and offers a blank canvas for accessorizing and customization.
And there are also a few old school colors, Trail Dust and Heritage Blue
with a two toned roof that will surely invoke
some cool Land Cruiser nostalgia.
Now, to further enable a fun and safe adventure, we designed the interior
experience to convey confidence, security, and intuitive operation.
The interior components are inspired by premium
professional tools to express durability and precision,
and the horizontal-axis Instrument panel offers a sense of stability
while operational functions are organized in zones for quick access,
along with smartly designed switches that are easy to operate.
And there are also enhanced functional features while driving on rough trails
such as the palm rest for using the center touch screen
and side knee pads that support upright driving posture.
The collective result
is a reborn, back to origin, Land Cruiser.
That looks capable, heroic, and lives up to its legendary name.
Our creative team loved working on this car
and we have one of our Land Cruiser designers from CALTY,
Jin Kim, here with us in the audience...Jim.
Thank you, everyone.
Thanks again for being here. Really appreciate it.
What a cool place to to hold this event.
And please enjoy the evening and I'm going to turn it back to Dave.
Thanks, Kevin.
Thank you.
Kevin, you, your team,
the global team from TMC, did a truly amazing job.
Thank you so much for this great product.
And it's important to recognize that we were able to bring Land Cruiser back
while still expanding our electrified portfolio.
This continues our goal of carbon neutrality.
You no longer have to choose between capability and the environment.
Land Cruiser rounds out our 25th
electrified model across Toyota and Lexus,
which is more than any other automaker in the world.
I have to say, it is so great to finally share the news that we're
bringing the legendary Land Cruiser back and you won't have to wait much longer.
Production will start early next year
at the Tahara and Hino plants in Japan. Starting with the First Edition model.
We will announce full pricing and spec details around that time.
We can't conclude without giving a huge thank you to Greg Miller
and the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum for welcoming us.
Greg, thank you so much.
Now, for what we've all been waiting for, you get an up close first look.
Surrounded by the history that inspired the return of this icon.
So please come up and experience the all new Land Cruiser.
Thank you so much. Let's have a great evening.
Thank you.