The Toyota Land Cruiser (Japanese: トヨタ ランドクルーザー, Toyota Rando-kurūzā?) is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. Development of the first generation Land Cruiser began in 1951 as Toyota's version of a Jeep-like vehicle and production started in 1954. The Land Cruiser has been produced in convertible, hardtop, station wagon, and utility truck versions. The Land Cruiser's reliability and longevity has led to huge popularity, especially in Australia where it is the best-selling full-size, body-on-frame, four-wheel drive vehicle. Toyota also extensively tests the Land Cruiser in the Australian outback—considered to be one of the toughest operating environments in terms of both temperature and terrain

Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 has a long evolutionary history beginning back in 1951 when the vehicle was primarily used by the military overseas. At that time, the off road vehicle that had been manufactured and designed using the army surplus materials available from Toyota's government contract was a lightweight vehicle with a heavy duty engine and transmission. In 1954 the aggressive 4 x 4 was officially named the Land Cruiser.

Years of engineering and design expertise have been incorporated into the Land Cruiser. By 1965 the Land Cruiser was the best selling Toyota vehicle in the United States. Although this powerful 4 x 4 was designed to excel during off road driving, as the vehicle itself grew in popularity, the overall size of the Land Cruiser grew as well to accommodate the needs and desires of a larger group of automotive consumers that did not spend the majority of the time off road. However, off road capability never diminished. It only stands to reason with the vehicle's increase in overall size, upgraded materials, advanced engineering and new technologies that the cost of the vehicle would increase as well. Though the initial investment is comparatively high, the majority of Land Cruiser owners and industry analysts do agree that you get what you pay for with this vehicle-true 4 x 4 off road capabilities and utility within a constantly distinctive exterior and a more lavish interior.

The success of the Land Cruiser in the United States can be measured by high sales and customer satisfaction statistics as well as by the prestigious recognition this hard working and chameleon-like vehicle has received from experts in the automotive industry. In 1980, the Land Cruiser was the recipient of Off Road Magazine's 4 x 4 of the Year Award. From that point on, barely a year was missed when this evolutionary vehicle did not receive a highly recognized award in America, including the 'Most Reliable SUV' from Consumer Reports and the 'Best Buy Premium Large SUV' from Consumer Guide for the 2005 model year.

For the 2007 model year, the full size luxury 4X4 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV is equipped with a 4.7 liter V8 engine and smoothly transports driver and passengers in a luxuriously appointed interior over a variety of terrain. The versatile design of the cargo and passenger areas enable a variety of interior configurations to easily adapt to your changing needs.

History of the Toyota Land Cruiser

From its humble beginnings in 1950 as a development project based on the design of the Willys Jeep, the Land Cruiser has taken its rightful place as Toyota's flagship four-wheel drive vehicle. All dates are Toyota model year, and not necessarily the year in which the model was released.

1950
Development for the Model BJ prototype begins in Japan.

1951
When the Land Cruiser (then named "Model BJ") was first tested in August 1951, it climbed to the sixth station of Mt. Fuji -- the first motor vehicle to perform this feat. The first orders for the vehicle were from police and forestry departments because of its off-road abilities.

1954
The BJ was formally named Land Cruiser, and it officially entered mass-production, rather than being built on a made-to-order basis.

1955
The original 85 horsepower diesel engine was replaced with a 125 horsepower F-series 3.8L gasoline unit.

1958
The formal introduction of the Land Cruiser to the U.S. It was this year that the first hard-top version was introduced.

1961
A pickup and wagon version of the Cruiser were introduced in Japan.

1961 - 1965
Land Cruiser is the best selling Toyota in the U.S.

1965
The Land Cruiser moved toward the mainstream U.S. market with the introduction of the five-door station wagon, the F55. The wagon was hailed as a vehicle that was competent enough to drive through the back country, yet was comfortable and power enough to drive on any public street.

1967
Mid year, the U.S. sales introduction of a hardtop version of the two-door.

1968
100,000th Land Cruiser sold worldwide.

1972
200,000th Land Cruiser sold worldwide.

1973
300,000th Land Cruiser sold worldwide.

1975
The 3.8L engine was replaced by a larger and more powerful 4.2L version, making the Land Cruiser easier to drive. For the home market (Japan), Land Cruiser has almost always been available with a diesel engine -- originally 3.2L, reintroduced a 3.0L in 1976, and updated to 3.2L again in 1979 -- but was never officially available in the U.S.

1980
The 2nd generation station wagon is introduced as the FJ80 and the U.S. Land Cruiser earns the "4x4 of the Year" award by Off-Road magazine.

1981
The 1,000,000th Land Cruiser is sold.

1983
This was the last year of sales for the FJ40 (although production ended in 1979).

1988
Minor updates to the wagon took place in this year.

1990
Consumer's Digest names the Land Cruiser a "Best Buy", and the 2,000,000th Cruiser is sold.

1991
The 3rd generation of the wagon, the FJ80, was a larger, more luxurious vehicle that sported full-time four-wheel-drive and a fully independent four-wheel coil-spring suspension. It was named one of Consumer Digest's "Best Buys" and the "Best Full-Size SUV in Customer Satisfaction" by J.D. Power & Associates.

1992
"Best Full-Sized Sport Utility" in IQS and CSI, J.D. Power, and among "Best Buys" by Consumers Digest.

1993
The Land Cruiser grows up a little more, now sporting a 24-valve, DOHC inline six-cylinder engine displacing 4.5L. The Cruiser produced 212 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, and was more capable of pulling Land Cruiser's 5153 pounds of curb weight.

This model of Cruiser was a far cry from the 1953 model, sporting optional leather upholstery, available seating for eight, an available compact-disc player, manually, locking front and rear, and automatic locking center differentials, Land Cruiser was now a shadow of its former self. This Cruiser was again named "Best Full-Sized Sport Utility" in IQS, J.D. Power, and among "Best Buys" by Consumers Digest magazine.

1994
Changes were minimal (changes have only been made when necessary). The only change was the addition of CFC-free air-conditioning. Among Consumers Digest "Best Buys".

1995
In 1995, Land Cruiser took a large step toward additional passenger safety. With more and more consumers, using their "sport-utility" vehicles as passenger cars, and those consumers looking for vehicles that offer enhanced safety features, Toyota was ready. Along with a new grille featuring redesigned headlights, the 1995 Land Cruiser included as standard equipment, both driver and passenger side airbags and adjustable shoulder-belt anchors, and ABS. These additions did nothing to diminish Land Cruiser's off-the-road abilities, though, and it continues on as the most refined, most capable four-wheel-drive vehicle on the market.

1996
"Best Full-Size SUV in Initial Quality" - J.D. Power

1997
"Luxury SUV Best Buy" - Four Wheeler magazine. "Best Overall Truck: Resale Value After Three Years of Ownership" - ADP Autosource Survey. "1997 Top Three Vehicles in Initial Quality-Full-Sized Segment" -J.D. Power.

1998
Toyota introduced the 5th generation Land Cruiser, the first all new Cruiser since 1991. The new Cruiser is larger, heavier, structurally more solid and substantially more powerful than its predecessor. Yet it delivers improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and considerably quicker, more responsive acceleration. It also features the first V8 engine in a Toyota Division vehicle. The all new 4.7L 32 valve DOHC produces 230 horsepower, 18 more than its predecessor's inline six-cylinder, and 320 lbs.-ft. of torque, an improvement of 45 over the '97 model.

1999
The recently redesigned Land Cruiser features an independent rear automatic climate control system for added convenience and passenger comfort. It receives the "Best Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle Segment" award by J.D. Power.

2000
Toyota again raised the benchmark in SUV performance and refinement by adding active traction control (Active TRAC), vehicle skid control equipment (VSC), and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) systems as standard equipment. The Cruiser also added a six-disc in-dash CD player as standard.

2001
The legendary Land Cruiser has a few new additions. It features an available navigation system with DVD player, standard auto dimming rear view mirror, and integrated compass in the rear view mirror (on models without the navigation system), JBL three-in-one AM/FM/Cassette/CD six-disc in-dash changer with seven speakers with an available Electro Multi-Vision screen with center console six-disc CD player.

Notes
Land Cruiser: Land Cruiser is Toyota's flagship four-wheel drive vehicle. The name implies its go-anywhere ability.

The Land Cruiser is built at the Araco Corporation plant in Toyota City, Japan.