Toyota Australia has axed the V8-powered LandCruiser 70 Sequence and is working to safe as many examples as doable between now and the top of subsequent yr.
It’s calling time on the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 engine after 17 years on sale regionally as a consequence of “altering laws and group expectations”, and is as a substitute increasing the four-cylinder lineup with the addition of a guide transmission.
Manufacturing of V8-powered 70 Sequence fashions will finish in September 2024, aside from 79 Sequence GXL single- and double-cab utes.
Closing deliveries of V8-powered wagons, Troop Carriers, and Workmate and GX utes will attain prospects by the top of the yr, Toyota says.
Manufacturing of GXL utes will proceed “properly into subsequent yr”, with buyer deliveries to be accomplished throughout the fourth quarter of 2025.
Orders of V8-powered fashions had been paused for nearly two years. Toyota says the oldest orders shall be crammed first.
“Out of respect for these prospects who’ve already positioned orders, and plenty of of them have been ready a protracted, very long time, our single-minded focus is to get the utmost doable V8 allocation from the manufacturing unit and ship them to prospects as rapidly as doable,” mentioned Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s vp for gross sales, advertising and franchise operations.
He mentioned the corporate’s objective is to fill the “important” variety of orders.
“Our sellers are working with prospects to safe their most popular Toyota car,” mentioned Mr Hanley.
“A few of them are shifting to four-cylinder. Now that we’ve acquired a four-cylinder guide coming, that could be advantageous for a few of them, but when they want to stick with V8, that’s fantastic. We’ll work by and attempt to fulfil these orders.”
Along with axing the 1VD-FTV engine in our market, it has concurrently introduced the 1GD 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder launched final yr will acquire a five-speed guide choice.
The guide four-cylinder 70 Sequence will enter manufacturing in October, with pricing and gas economic system figures to be introduced nearer to launch.
Toyota has confirmed guide four-cylinder 70 Sequence fashions will produce the identical 150kW as auto fashions, however with 450Nm of torque – down from 500Nm.
The guide shall be provided on all fashions bar single-cab utes and the Workmate wagon, and is predicated on the guide used within the V8 however engineered for higher-torque functions.
It has distinctive gear ratios, with shorter first, second and third gears for higher efficiency off the road, and has a flywheel suitable with a 12-inch clutch plus a mud seal to stop overseas matter coming into the discharge bearing.
Toyota has additionally added a triple synchronisation mechanism to the primary gear for smoother modifications, whereas an extended fifth gear is meant to enhance gas economic system and cut back noise at freeway speeds.
Nonetheless, it gained’t be provided with Downhill Help Management just like the four-cylinder auto, and likewise misses out on the entrance console field.
Mr Hanley mentioned the V8’s axing has been within the works for some time.
“It’s not very troublesome to work out why we’re bringing down the curtain on the V8. Altering laws and, extra importantly, group expectations made it inevitable. It was solely a matter of time. And that point is now,” he mentioned.
“The opposite different right here in fact was to stroll away from this mannequin, however let me guarantee all of you, that was by no means an choice.
“And earlier than you soar to conclusions that this was utterly pushed by NVES regulation, sure, regulation performed an element.
“I want I may let you know we have been so agile that we may transfer so rapidly from March of this yr, however the hardcore actuality is we’ve been planning this for a protracted very long time, so regulation, however extra importantly client sentiment has performed the most important function.”
In asserting the axing of the engine for our market, Mr Hanley referred to as it a “joint determination” between Toyota Australia and head workplace in Japan.
Since its launch final yr, Mr Hanley says there was a “wholesome” take-up of four-cylinder 70 Sequence fashions, significantly in fleets.
He cited the fitment of an automated transmission as being a serious driver of those gross sales, with the V8 being solely provided with a five-speed guide.
There’s at the moment a 3-6 month wait on four-cylinder fashions.
Whereas the four-cylinder guide might entice would-be V8 patrons, Mr Hanley mentioned he expects the auto to be the larger vendor shifting ahead.
“The market’s shifting to auto, nonetheless this shall be a extremely good take a look at to see how far and what contribution of gross sales the guide truly makes,” he mentioned.
“We’ll consider that over the subsequent two to 3 years as we might with any lifecycle.
“I consider that the market will transfer extra to auto and the guide shall be a considerably smaller portion, however this can be a distinctive market. So once more, it’s about selection ultimately, shoppers will determine.
“I believe there’s a small market there however there’s a market.”
Mr Hanley mentioned there’s been loads of pent-up demand for the 70 Sequence, and predicted there might be an preliminary drop in gross sales as soon as the V8 goes.
“There’s two features you’ve acquired to take a look at once you have a look at 70 Sequence,” he mentioned.
“One is what’s the pure demand and market correction of that automotive sooner or later and I believe when it settles it’ll settle barely decrease than the place it’s been the final couple of years however over time it’ll return to its authentic type of intent.
“That’s, it’ll be a dominant participant – excessive market share of the phase, not loads of opponents, I get that, but it surely’ll be fantastic.
“Nonetheless, you’ve additionally acquired to take into consideration that we’re pumping loads of automobiles on the market within the subsequent 12 months.
“So there’ll be a correction however I think that it’ll play its function in our lineup and it’ll be proceed to be robust over time.”
Since debuting in 2007, the V8 engine has powered greater than 171,010 70 Sequence fashions in Australia.
For context, Toyota has bought 346,742 70 Sequence fashions in Australia since its 1985 introduction, which suggests over half of those pack a bent-eight beneath the bonnet.
Whereas the two.8-litre has half as many cylinders, it’s down simply 1kW in energy however packs 70Nm extra torque than the V8, with outputs of 150kW and 500Nm when outfitted with the six-speed auto.
