2021 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series now tipped for mid-2021 – report

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series will not arrive in Australia until the middle of 2021, according to the latest report from Japanese publication CarSensor.

While Toyota Australia is yet to confirm exact release dates – and the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series remains into production until at least the end of 2020 – the outlet said the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible to conduct necessary overseas testing.

Engine specification are also unconfirmed, however it appears all-but-certain the 300 Series will see the existing 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel phased out for a range of V6 options, as reported by CarAdvice in June 2019. Additional reports out of Japan in early 2020 also suggested it was the beginning of the end for the diesel V8.

Above: An illustration by Japanese website CarSensor hinting at what the upcoming 300 Series LandCruiser could look like.

Rumours are the new 3.3-litre V6 diesel engine will be joined by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, and eventually a V6 petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

Furthermore, a diesel-electric hybrid is also being considered by the Japanese manufacturer.

In late 2019, Toyota Australia had completed market research in rural areas, confirming the feasibility of hybrid powertrains among traditional buyers.

"What we are quickly learning as we travel around Australia and we talk about hybrids in regional areas, is our regional areas particularly in the agricultural sector are well advanced in alternate powertrains in their other machinery," Toyota Australia's Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley told CarAdvice at the time.

In early 2020, Mr Hanley said in an interview the 300 Series LandCruiser would be no less capable than the current model.

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