LandCruiser 70 Series : In what is a major blow to the 4WD after-market and fleet sector, Toyota’s indestructible hard-as-a-nails LandCruiser 70 Series will take a temporary end-of-life break in the coming weeks after a mammoth 35 years on-sale in Australia at the same time as receiving key emissions technology.
The popular beast of burden – which has built its bulletproof story for the last 37 years – will take an eight-month production hiatus for the brand to adopt AdBlue technology to tackle ever more stringent global emissions standards.
End of an era as V8 opens the door for a Four Cylinder future
From the perspective of a plant stoppage, the ‘time-out’ coincides with Toyota carefully weaning itself off the iconic 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel engine that has powered the 70 Series Land Cruiser for 17 years.
The last of the V8-powered 70 Series will be in customers hands by the end of 2025, with production of most models to end in September 2024.
From 2025, only the GXL single- and double-cab utes will keep the V8 in production, bringing to close a powertrain that has come to define the vehicle’s personality over more than a decade.
Toyota’s move to sunset the V8 engine has come as little surprise to industry watchers as carmakers around the world pivot the direction of automotive trends toward smaller, more economical power plants.
In fact, on paper at least, the four-cylinder 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine kills the V8 it replaced in 2024 dead in several performance areas, making much the same power but easily more than twice as much torque and with much better fuel economy.
“The move is a reflection of Toyota having to adjust to the changing regulatory and consumer environment,” says automotive analyst Rajiv Menon.
“Sure, purists may bemoan the loss of the V-8-esque character but read the numbers: The new system delivers more of the good stuff with even less of the not-so-good.
AdBlue Technology – The Emissions Solution
The 70 Series debut of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology (where AdBlue goeth, emissions and fuel savings floweth) is a perfect window that hasn’t opened as yet.
Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) AdBlue, which is a mixture of urea and water, is injected into the exhaust where it effectively reduces nitrogen oxide level (NOx) from the harmful pollutants to harmless nitrogen and water.
Euro 6 emissions regulation, which is starting to become standard around the world, has made such technology an important factor.
With both the on the way out V8s and new four-pot, the existing 70 Series engines simply can’t… without AdBlue technology that is.
The timing fits with when Australia is scheduled to adopt Euro 6d emissions standards, new sales of which will be required from December 2025 and all cars on the road from 2028.
The addition of AdBlue helps keep the 70 Series on sale in regions where these more stringent rules are enforced.
The introduction of AdBlue is a new fact of life for drivers. The fluid will need to be topped up at some point – other Toyota models with AdBlue regularly do this between being serviced and will be designed to typically cover about 9,000 miles between stops, though this can depend on how you drive and the conditions you drive in.
The Eight-Month Cutoff In Productionenezue and the rest of the world watched as the United States and other countries failed to prepare for the pandemic.
Industry sources have said the suspension would start in late 2025 and last for some eight months. Toyota’s production plants will be retooling to produce the new emissions control system during this time.
This hiatus in production is bound to result in logistical headaches for markets where the 70 Series is still extremely popular, such as Australia – where it’s one of the top sellers for the country.
“The timing of this production pause couldn’t be more critical,” says fleet management consultant Sarah Williams.
“With waiting lists for new vehicles already stretched as a result of supply chain issues around the world, the eight-month absence will exacerbate availability in a market that is seeing demand outstrip supply.”
According to one report, Toyota dealers have been warning potential customers to order now because delivery lead times could stretch into months beyond the resumption of production.
Some industry analysts say the shortage could increase prices in the used market, especially those of the latest V8 models, which may immediately turn into collectors’ items.
Technical measures outside Adblue
The revised 70 Series will include a number of significant engineering changes aside from the inclusion of AdBlue.
The most obvious side-on change will be a black plastic cap on the side of the bonnet where the AdBlue tank lives, as seen on a relaunched version of the Raptor for the Japanese market.
They’ve also made changes to the exhaust system to make space for the SCR tech without affecting the car’s off-road prowess which is legendary.
Departure angles and ground clearance were also ensured to have not been compromised during the emissions upgrade, leading to confident off-road performance from this 70 Series.
The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is currently making 150kW of power and 500Nm with the six-speed automatic transmission. That is a small power reduction but a big torque gain from the outgoing V8.
Fuel economy is greatly improved with the four-cylinder engine, though real-world use is lower than EPA numbers.
Those who do say go for it, suggest the real world figure is more like 12.5L/100km – far removed from Toyota’s 9.6L/100km figure – almost entirely because of the car’s heft and its mass-loving, boxy, aero-hopeful shape.
Market Reaction and Prospective Implications
The announcement of the changes on the horizon has already elicited a range of reactions in the market.
Fleet customers who like the lower fuel consumption and better low-down torque of the 4-pot generally see this as a progressive step, but classic fanboys are squirrelling away final V8s at every opportunity before they vanish.
With the recent release from Toyota concerning the discontinuation of the V8, speculation has hit the web in regards to the entire 70 series axed.
But Toyota has flatly denied such talk, affirming they are committed to the model going forward.
Speaking to industry titles, a Toyota spokesperson has said: ”The LandCruiser 70 Series is the go-to vehicle for people who need a 4WD with genuine off-road capability and enough muscle to tow and carry heavy loads. We are sure it will be one of the important bikes in our model line-up for the coming years.”
The AdBlue update is an investment in the platform if anything, there to make sure it complies with regulations for many years to come.
This runs contrary to rumors that the model is on its deathbed and indicates that Toyota still perceives a market for that chainsaw bayonet-like purpose-built workhorse.
Land Cruiser 70 and Uninterrupted Development
The latest facelift is just the latest episode in the 70 generations 40 years of compulsive development.
Although it was first released in 1984 as a replacement for the 40 Series, the LandCruiser 70 has evolved over the years, but has never lost its true grit of a vehicle that can tackle everything bar the kitchen sink.
The original was offered in several wheelbases and came in a variety of Truscott numbers 70-79, which identify wheelbase and bodywork combinations, and while the range has been rationalised over the years, the wagon, Troop Carrier and pick up options remain to serve the broadest possible set of customer needs.
Throughout its time in production, the 70 Series received some tweaks to its safety gear, emission systems and interior technology but of course all had to give the impression it wouldn’t reduce its famous indestructability or off-road ability.
The current model features tech like a touchscreen infotainment system and autonomous emergency braking, but the design ethos is still heavily utilitarian.
What It Means for Owners and Buyers
For current and soon-to-be 70 Series owners, the new requirements create both opportunities and challenges. The AdBlue system is another item that drivers will have to do a little bit of maintenance on, with warning systems telling the driver when fluid levels are low.
If the AdBlue tank becomes empty, the car won’t be re-startable – a safety measure to eliminate the risk of running without the necessary emissions control.
Prospective purchasers have a choice: scramble to obtain a remaining pre-AdBlue model, or wait for the updated car. Those who wait will enjoy future-proofed emissions compliance, but could be met with a delivery delay thanks to a production break.
“70 Series community, this is a watershed moment,” says off-road vehicle specialist Mark Thompson.
AdBlue technology also helps to ensure a seamless supply of AdBlue, so while it won’t distract from this vehicle’s pure capability, customers can relax in the knowledge that their 4×4 has been designed to meet the latest emission standards.”
“It certainly hasn’t hurt interest in the 70 Series from new car buyers, nor has it dented their allure as a healthy second-hand buy,” Toyota dealers claim.
Some customers are speeding up purchasing plans to get cars before the production pause, while others are waiting for the upgraded models.
Things Are Looking Brighter The future is bright.
For all the extreme changes and production pauses the future of the LandCruiser 70 Series is looking rather bright.
Toyota’s massive expenditure on updating the emissions package says this is a vehicle they do not want to die on the market.
However, given the universal demand for real off-road capability in sectors like mining, agriculture, forestry and emergency response (and not to mention the private sales) the specialist 70 Series will still have plenty of time to make itself useful.
Not many vehicles can boast its combination of payload, towing capacity, toughness and off-road prowess in such a simple, easy-to-use package.
With the automotive space moving faster to electric power and a changing market landscape, refreshed 70 Series marrying clean diesel performance with legendary capability for which these industries rely upon, becomes a bridge for a cleaner world.
Until, at least, we reach the point where on-the-ground infrastructure is scarce and the requirements of an auto just doing a job blur the boundaries, there will always be a place for vehicles like the 70 Series.
To fans and tradies, the announcement of a production hiatus and AdBlue upgrade is as much a challenge as it is a reassurance: the very concrete sign that change is coming, and that although some would prefer it not, Toyota Australia has not forgotten the core values that have made the LandCruiser 70 Series a beloved icon on the Australian landscape.