Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (URJ202W) Facelift

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser interior

The Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (URJ202W) is the only V8-powered full-size SUV made in Japan. It was having a good time pummeling against rivals such as Mitsubishi Pajero and the Range Rover. You can see them commonly in the Middle East but it is rarely seen in the streets of Los Angeles, Manila, or even Tokyo. Sadly though it's not available in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia because of the ASEAN-built Fortuner takes place.

This generation was been there for four years since its debut in late 2007 but for the 2013 model year, the Toyota LC200 deserved its mid-life facelift to keep it fresh for the only V8-powered SUV made in Japan. So for the exterior details, you should expect a new headlamp design, a new front bumper, new rims, and a new rear design. That should make it perfect to keep it more muscular for this flagship model.

Once again, the interior design looks the same as the previous model. It still features a choice of 5-seater and 7-seater, climate control, heated seats, available G-BOOK mX Pro HDD Navigation System, Toyota Premium Sound System with 18-speakers, rear-seat entertainment system, USB Connectivity, and a new "Shell" interior color. Guess that they've been running out of ideas but this interior is all about "Business Class" comfort. So, it was like you're on a business trip to the Middle East and going around for some Arab money. Well, knock yourself out...

The Toyota Land Cruiser 200 is powered by the 1UR-FE (4.6L V8) engine that produces 318PS of power and 460Nm of torque. With its Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) and 6-speed Super ECT, it is capable of achieving a fuel economy of 6.9km/L based on Japan's JC08 Test Cycle. The Multi-Terrain Select allows the user to take advantage of five different modes based on terrain responses such as ROCK, ROCK & DIRT, MOGUL, LOOSE ROCK, and MUD & SAND. It even features Crawl Control, Variable Gear Ratio Steering, Active Height Control Suspension with Adaptive Variable Suspension System, and the most basic feature of them all is KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System).

Available colors are White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Black, Attitude Black Mica, Dark Red Mica Metallic, and Beige Mica Metallic.

My comment:
Keeping the LC200 updated is just one of the reasons why they want to keep the legendary Land Cruiser despite the tough times caused by the March 11 disaster, the European Debt Crisis, and the Thai Floods. Now if we could only hope for is sit down and wait for it to decide its fate.

Sales for this facelifted model start this January 6, 2012, and it will come soon in the Middle East and in the USA. Now, if we could hope is to wait for Toyota Motor Philippines to bring the facelifted LC200 soon or wait for some sneaky gray market importers, especially Auto Trend, to have one, especially if this one's a Dubai Version...

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation.

Efini MPV and Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in a Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin episode

Efini MPV in a Minsan Lang Kita
Iibigin episode

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in a Minsan
Lang Kita Iibigin episode

On the April 29, 2011 episode of Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, I saw the Mazda Efini MPV (LVEW) and the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (URJ202W) on that episode.

Wow, the Land Cruiser 200 URJ202W looks nice, especially that this car made an appearance incidentally on a Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin episode.

The Efini MPV seems to be a good people mover but since this car's old, I can't help it but appreciate its standards.

New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Back in 2007, Toyota launched the fully redesigned Land Cruiser (LC200) and gained the ultimate reputation as the "King of 4WD" among SUV fans from around the world. Crossing from the muddy dirt to the pavement, from the mountainside to the city side, nothing beats the king of sport utility vehicles. Much ado from that, it also sold from around the world as the Lexus LX 570 or a Land Cruiser V8 from around the globe. Just when you thought that, the original Land Cruiser is truly the SUV King of the world, wait until you will see its nimbler prince waiting to succeed the same way as its "father" did.













Introducing the all new, all powerful, Land Cruiser Prado and it is now ever better than its original Land Cruiser 200. In the previous generation, the Land Cruiser Prado sold in the U.S. as the Lexus GX and in the Europe as simply Land Cruiser. (Not to be confused from the Land Cruiser V8 this is in fact a Land Cruiser 200) The impression of the new Prado is like a tsundere, the exterior is aggressive but the interior is a gentle side because of its spacious yet luxurious amenities only an executive has to offer, like for example; a premium sound system, leather seats, optional navigation system, adjustable seats, cup holders, start/stop engine button and optitron meters.

From its so-called tsundere personality, the new Prado also comes with the optional third row seats giving this car a seven-seater capacity to bring more friends or family for the long trips ahead from your schedule. For the performance that carries the long tradition of the Prado history, there are two available engines to choose from; from the 2.7-litre 2TR-FE engine that carries 163PS at the fuel economy of 8.8km/L to the powerful 4.0-litre V6 1GR-FE engine that delivers 276PS at the fuel economy of 8.2km/L. The KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) and the "crawl control" feature found on the Land Cruiser 200 are applied to the new Prado to give this prince of sport utility vehicle a gene carried its royal heritage to the long tradition of the Land Cruiser history. For the first time in Prado history, the new version is equipped with Toyota's first Multi-Terrain Select that allows the driver to choose which option is suitable on the road ahead, for instance; tarmac, gravel, mud, whatever the Prado crossed ahead on the road ahead.

For the peace of mind, the new Prado is equipped with Pre-Crash safety system, clearance sonar, radar cruise control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Anti-lock Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control, SRS airbags, reinforced body, and the world's first Multi Terrain Monitor (similar to Nissan's Around View Monitor) that seeks road conditions with the use of four cameras mounted on the new Prado.

INDEED IT IS:

Despite this next generation model is targeted by mostly middle-aged men in their 40s, the new Prado is truly the prince of SUVs as fans would love to speak about this new model. When it hits the world market either this one, a Lexus GX or simply a Land Cruiser moniker, it will do the same thing as its LC200 "father" did from the sand dunes to the city lights. Be prepared to want one.


Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation