New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: SA launch pushed back
The official market launch of the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in South Africa was due to take place in April 2024 but has now been pushed back a couple of months…
South Africans itching to purchase an example of the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado will have to exercise just a little more patience, with the local market launch of the highly anticipated J250-generation SUV having been pushed back by a couple of months.
At its State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) 2024 event in January, Toyota SA Motors announced that the new Prado was scheduled to hit the local market in April. However, the Japanese company’s local division has confirmed to Cars.co.za that the release of the new model to dealers will now likely take place only in June 2024.
The reason for the postponement? Well, Toyota SA Motors told us that the “delay was due to homologation processes” (before hitting the market, all new-vehicle models have to be granted approval by the relevant authority, ensuring they comply with local legislation and codes of practice). For the record, the media launch of the new Prado – which was revealed back in August 2023 – is expected to take place in the 2nd week of July 2024.
As an aside, the new Prado has only just gone on sale in its domestic market of Japan, where it’s known as the Land Cruiser 250 (dispensing with the Prado moniker). Meanwhile, the new 7-seater SUV, which is underpinned by the same TNGA-F ladder-frame chassis as employed by the Land Cruiser 300, is set to launch in Australia towards the middle of the year.
While we don’t yet have official local pricing, Cars.co.za uncovered several details of the local line-up back at the end of January. According to our information, the local Prado range will shrink slightly – from the current 5 derivatives to 3 variants – largely owing to the removal of the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine from the line-up. As such, all models will employ the Japanese firm’s familiar 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine.
In J250-series Prado form, Toyota’s well-known 1GD-FTV motor will again deliver 150 kW and 500 Nm to all 4 corners, though will switch from the outgoing model’s 6-speed automatic transmission to an 8-speed self-shifting gearbox. Braked towing capacity will remain at 3 000 kg, while all derivatives will ride on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/65 R18 tyres.
The Prado 2.8 GD TX will again serve as the entry point to the range, though we understand this derivative will lose its centre limited-slip differential. The TX is, however, in line to score a more comprehensive anti-theft system, as well as added safety features such as tyre-pressure monitoring, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-trace assist, adaptive cruise control and extra airbags.
Like all variants in the new range, the 2.8 GD TX derivative will come with a black finish for its front bumper, grille, side-mirror caps, rear bumper and wheel-arch mouldings. Inside, however, it will switch from a leather-and-fabric combination to straight leather (while also dropping its traditional handbrake lever in favour of an electric version).
With the outgoing range’s VX and VX-L trim levels set to be scrapped, the new Prado 2.8 GD VX-R specification is up next. This grade will add items such as a moonroof, a heated steering wheel, a cooler box, wireless smartphone charging and adaptive high-beam headlamps. It appears set to do without adaptive variable suspension but will score a rear and centre torque-sensing limited-slip differential.
Finally, there’s the Prado 2.8 VX-R First Edition. As we understand it, there will technically be 2 versions of the First Edition (1 in monotone form and the other in bi-tone guise), each based on the VX-R specification. First Edition models will be easily recognisable thanks to their circular headlamps.
We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for local pricing as the new Prado market introduction draws ever nearer…
New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado line-up for South Africa
Land Cruiser Prado 2.8 GD TX
Land Cruiser Prado 2.8 GD VX-R
Land Cruiser Prado 2.8 GD VX-R First Edition (also available in bi-tone)
We expect the new Prado to ship standard with Toyota’s 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-service/90 000 km service plan.
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