Toyota is boosting its light-commercial-vehicle offering in the U.K. by offering a van conversion model of the new Land Cruiser to be built at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.
The move is seen as a way to provide an AWD option to the existing Hilux van offered in the market by Toyota and increase the brand’s presence in the LCV market
It will become the halo model in Toyota’s Professional range and responds to consumer demand since the latest generation Land Cruiser was launched last year.
This factory conversion of the long-wheelbase version of Land Cruiser passenger car involves the removal of the rear seats, inserting interior steel panel inserts in place of rear windows and installing a full-height metal bulkhead with a mesh top section.
Its load space will also feature an edge-to-edge floor tray. Load space measures 1,090 mm (43 ins.) high, 1,685 mm (66.3 ins.) long and a maximum 1,286 mm (50.6 ins.) wide, giving a cargo capacity of up to 2,000 L (70.6 cu.-ft). The Land Cruiser Commercial also claims tow loads up to 3.5 tons.
Specification highlights include 18-in. alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, a power back door with opening window hatch, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, electronic parking brake and automatic dual-zone air conditioning. The multimedia system includes a 9-in. (22.9-cm) touchscreen and wireless smartphone integration with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Powertrain is the 2.8L diesel coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission and employing permanent AWD and selectable drive modes.
Off-road performance systems include Crawl Control, Hill-start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control. The driving-assistance features include a blindspot monitor, front and rear parking sensors and safe exit assist.
The powertrain will be upgraded later to incorporate Land Cruiser’s upcoming Hybrid 48V mild-hybrid system.
The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial will be on sale from Aug. 1 with deliveries to customers from September. The commercial vehicle on-the-road price including taxes is £52,729 ($70,942).
