By Ian Glover
Toyota is about to release a vehicle that will have everyone asking ‘What’s taken them so long?’ On sale from late September, the LC79 double cab – latest iteration of the proven and popular 70 Series Cruiser – will be priced from just under $64,000 and, make no bones about it so to speak, will sell faster than Viagra in a retirement village.
Australia will be the first country in the world to get the new vehicle, Toyota citing demand from the booming mining sector and rural buyers as the LC79 double cab’s primary raison d’être. We see far greater and more widespread demand than that, with the 70 Series’ enduring rep for toughness and reliability making the new vehicle attractive to tradies and recreational buyers wanting flexibility in their vehicle choice.
There are two variants: base model Workmate and uprated GXL. Both come with 130 litre fuel tanks, five-speed manual transmissions and Toyota’s acclaimed 4.5 litre turbo-diesel V8 engine. This powerplant is Euro IV-compliant, delivers 151kW of power, and best of all, has great torque – 430Nm held all the way from 1200 to 3200rpm – the flattest torque curve of all Toyota engines.
Work vehicles aren’t barebones that they once were, with the new models having anti-skid brakes, standard snorkel, improved seats, in-dash multi-function clock and audio/CD system with Bluetooth hands-free, audio streaming and voice recognition phone/audio. Workmate comes with 16” steel rims, aluminium side steps, vinyl seat facings and floor coverings, black bumpers and the option of diff locks, while the more recreationally-based GXL has 16” alloy wheels, over guard flares, remote central locking, diff locks, fog lamps, power windows, carpets and cloth seats…pricing starts at $67,990. Even with the extra row of seats, payload is still a full one tonne.
Oh, what a good idea!
2 comments
toyota v8,underpowered compared to my 4.2 mwm sprint,135kw,500nm 145lt tank,10.5lt 100,cost,25k.& its a ford ish,international harvester,brazil f250,does the toyota still have a wider front diff than the rear,there so cheap on new models,OH we have 3 milloin rear diffs,just use them,dont make a new rear to suit front,just cost a mate 11k to fit a 100 series diff to correct,id be screaming at toyotas door,cant beat american 4x4s,dana spicer,new process,bullit proof.so its big,thats just your concept of normal.go buy a jk unlimited.kills toyotas.but jeeps petrol,well not now,or fit a 4bt cummins,or mazda 3.2.or a 12lt/100,6.6lt duramax.lly,lbz.only 12k for the whole drivetrain,unlike 12k just for a diesel 4.2 niss/toy engine with 100kw.rubbish.if you know someone thats fitted a 6.2/6.5 gm motor,diesel,hit them,wake up,its a buike petrol engine converted to diesel cos they had nothing.yes they ,the 6.5 turbo,puts out good hp,but its a handgrenade,like the 4cyl nissan diesel,you cant get a warrenty from the sellers in u.s. if you start the engine,its viod.best one is the 2001 fully re strengthened,but,still no warrenty with it.there rubbish,as well,dont believe me,punch in wiki.,,i also own a 1962 f100 4×4 352FE v8 divorced transfer case,9″,dana 44 front,new process 205 4sp.still going strong.american,not jap.yes im bias,but not so squeezy.i see them,in my rear vison mirror.
o ya,just remembered,want to learn something,look up ”dirt every day”ytube,or farmington,or lions back moab,or jeepers jamboree.