Well a Toyota executive has put to rest the speculation about the new Land Cruiser, looks like it is all but confirmed according to Motor Trend.

The Toyota Land Cruiser Will Likely Return to U.S.

Key paragraphs extracted:

However, our options may be expanding beyond Lexus once again in a few years time, according to Jack Hollis, executive vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America.

"Hollis was asked if a storied nameplate like the Land Cruiser would ever make its return stateside, and the answer was promising: "Will we ever? I would say likely yes," Asked if it would be in the foreseeable future, he said we would have to wait for an answer on that one.

"Obviously Land Cruiser is such an important part of our heritage and has done such a great job. And I'll be looking at it, absolutely. Have I seen designs, thoughts, and hopes, yes. But nothing to announce. It's still a ways off," Hollis added.

So it's certainly not confirmed, but it's a much stronger answer than we were expecting. Then again, even last year's Land Cruiser departure announcement came with a wink, with Toyota encouraging "loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments."

However, it sounds like we should be looking beyond the current J300 series Land Cruiser to whatever the next generation model may look like, which will almost certainly need to be electrified, either hybrid or full battery-electric. Toyota's EV plans are reportedly in flux with the automaker devoting more resources to expedite its EV offerings, though no specific models have been teased, and the existing EV concepts may no longer be on the cards. Still, Hollis' comment is a promising start to whatever's next, and it sounds like still they have some confident ideas for the next Land Cruiser, at the very least."

I'm conflicted on it. I seriously doubt I would have kept it for 13 years so at this point I would have something different and would have had to do it during the shitshow and price gouging of the pandemic.
But, lord I miss that engine every time I go to the mountains. It was all around a more comfortable vehicle than the 4R and honestly, aside from doing Moab and long term reliability, it was a better vehicle than the 4R.

FTR I have no illusions that a touareg would have made it to 300k - that said I was at less than 100k when I traded it in and I'm only at 35k on my 4R now, I just don't drive much b/c I work from home.

Every armchair expert on this board has said it's returning for 2024, nothing in this article indicates that is true.

True, but at least we now have a Toyota exec discussing it, that is closer to any other confirmation we have had.

David, from Automotive Press posted a pretty good video on this.

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER RETURNS TO NORTH AMERICA! - THE REAL REASON WHY 6th GEN 4RUNNER IS DELAYED? - YouTube

He thinks the redesigned Land Cruiser Prado will be the Land Cruiser that is rumoured to be brought to Canada and the US. Says it will fall in between the Sequoia and 4R in pricing with the detuned 3.44 tt from the SR Tundra.

I'm guessing $57,000 in the US and $69,500 in Canada. He's predicting we will see it arrive this time next year. We will get a decent look at it about 6 months earlier when it's released in Japan first.

This makes the most sense for a conservative minded Toyota IMO. I'm still a little concerned with the twin turbo set up. If I had to choose between a redesigned LC Prado at $70,000 Canadian vs the last model year 4.0 4R TRD Off-Road for $55,000 Canadian I would have a hard time.

Has anyone driven the Prado? Would the current gen Prado be worth the extra money over a 4R if it's coming with the 3.44 twin turbo?

The Land Cruiser Prado is the Lexus GX. Do a google search and it won't take long to verify this. There are a number of people on t4r.org that own one.

I knew the GX and Prado were similar but they have different engines and thought it was primarily the frame and some parts they shared. I suppose with a complete redesign the current Prado isn't a good comparison. Hopefully it's released a year before the 6th gen 4R.

This is big news. All we've had so far was floaty rumors but actual acknowledgement from a Toyota VP helps cement these rumors.

It's curious that he mentions designs (plural). Suggesting he's seen multiple iterative and possible designs, some that we have not seen already. To me this suggests he's referring to the upcoming GX/Prado redesign although it could hint as a mild refresh of the J300.

In any case, I think I may call up my dealer to put down a deposit for this mysterious land cruiser. With the 6th gen 4Runner continually delayed, this Land Cruiser may hit dealer lots before it.

My comment wasn't critical of you...more critical of the guy speculating on the 2024 Land Cruiser. It was click bait. There is no way Toyota pulls a General Motors and has the Prado in the US as both the Lexus GX and the new LC. By the way, the US price point you guessed at is the current price point of the base model GX.

I did not originate the Land Cruiser news, it was @Carmaker1 last year, you know, the guy with a good track record.

Motor Trend and a Toyota exec are not what I would call click bait. David of Automotive Press youtube channel, now that is clickbait.

If you don't want to read speculation, it maybe best to unsubscribe from the speculation thread.

It's crazy how the one singular guy that has any credibility on this board is labeled an armchair expert and clickbait.

Carmaker1 has pretty accurately predicted the GR Corolla, the release date of the Tundra and Sequoia, the USDM Toyota Crown, and the introduction of the Grand Highlander (which was officially confirmed by Toyota 3 days ago). He also was the first to predict the delays of the 4Runner.

I'm pretty certain guys like David just read the forums like the rest of us and have no actual contacts within Toyota like Carmaker1 has.

That was the person I was calling click bait...David of Automotive Press.

I'm not sure where this misunderstanding came from but I try to be respectful to everyone. Rather than take offense to something that wasn't even intended, please ask for clarification first.

That would move the conversation forward much more effectively than suggesting someone leave the thread. This isn't an echo chamber. It's an open forum for everyone. Thanks.

Friends,

When I quote one user, in this case blackwatch, and we have a dialogue back and forth, I am directing my comments specifically to that person and what he or she wrote, not to every person involved in every post in a 31-page thread.

If I make a general comment without any quotation, then feel free to carve me up if you disagree. A general statement IS to everyone and I'll take whatever you dish out.

We all dig the 4Runner which is why we are here. Let's try to get along...

Oh no, I didn't take that as a critical remark. Lexus IS bringing out a TX model which is the Grand Highlander. There have been a few other Toyota /Lexus models that were copies of one another. The GX 550 is supposed to be more of an off road vehicle so I could see them dropping the Prado name and just calling it the LC, make it more of a Pro model/70 series look? Just the LC name would sell if it had a rough rugged look.
All that aside, if they went with the detuned SR Tundra 3.44 tt I would be concerned with it's longterm reliability.

Automotive press is clickbait but I think this last video makes sense. At least he didn't mention he's an engineer in this one I'm sure David from AP is on here taking notes.

Yeah, I could see Toyota slapping the LC name on something just to make a buck or two. The problem I see is, when Toyota offers a Lexus equivalent, the Lexus model is priced double-digit percentage points above its Toyota cousin to justify the Lexus brand prestige designation.

That's going to make the TX and the redesigned GX give people a sticker price coronary. For example, the LX pricing is asinine but they had to do it to keep the $$$ gap between it and the Sequoia.