2008 Toyota Land Cruiser V8

Enhanced all-round driving dynamics

With the development of the new generation Land Cruiser V8, Toyota has created a premium four-wheel-drive SUV with refinement and comfort, without sacrificing its authentic off-road performance. As a result, the new Land Cruiser V8 can truly claim to be the most capable, ultimate go-anywhere vehicle.

After almost 60 years of off-road heritage, Land Cruiser drivers expect their car to perform perfectly on the toughest tracks and trails across the world, offering superior driving performance and refinement. With Land Cruiser’s legendary reputation for quality, durability and reliability, they accept no compromise.

Different from any other four-wheel-drive car, the Land Cruiser V8 offers technical support to the driver that makes tricky sections passable, in terrain where even the most skillful drivers might otherwise struggle. This makes the new Toyota Land Cruiser V8 one of the most technically advanced four-wheel-drive vehicles ever. It is packed with features to make on- and off-road driving safer, more comfortable and more pleasurable.

Superior handling and stability, both on- and off-road, is achieved with the sophisticated suspension design which features several newly developed supporting systems to match the allnew platform. At the front, coil springs replace the former torsion bar design to offer better ride comfort and control. The suspension design is based on a double wishbone layout with inclined coil springs and dampers for optimum stability.

The front wheel stroke has been increased by 11% for bound and 18% for rebound, now reaching 230 mm in order to improve performance over rough ground. At the same time the whole suspension unit is strong enough to withstand the most rigorous conditions. Yet ride comfort and steering feel have actually been enhanced, through careful tuning and precise geometry.
The well-established, four link coil rear suspension from the current generation Land Cruiser is carried over to the new model – but has been retuned to provide significantly better handling, ride comfort and off-road performance. Roll steer has been optimised by moving the control arm position to ensure superior handling and stability, while the characteristics and size of bushes have been evaluated for optimum ride comfort.

Long travel suspension of 230/240 mm front/rear and short overhangs ensure that the new Land Cruiser V8 can tackle the roughest road surfaces. The maximum approach angle is 32° (31° with 4W AHC & AVS) and the maximum departure angle is 24° (23° with 4W AHC & AVS). The ramp break over angle is 25° (24° with 4W AHC & AVS suspension). The standard grade of the new Toyota Land Cruiser V8 is equipped with a brand new suspension control technology that provides improved driving performance, comfort and body roll control without an external power source. This new control technology, Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), is likely to be adopted by Toyota as an important new direction for the future.

KDSS automatically adjusts both front and rear anti-roll stabiliser bar function characteristics depending on the type of road to be used: active stabilising is in permanent use for on-road driving, whilst the system automatically disables the two stabiliser bars as soon as it comes to demanding off-road driving situations. The automatic actuation of KDSS is based on the movement of hydraulic cylinders that form part of the anti-roll bar mounts. The cylinders, both connected by hydraulic pipes, are applied in parallel during on-road use and in an anti-parallel mode during the typical off-road articulation of the two axes.

When body roll occurs during cornering on flat ground, hydraulic pressure is generated by the cylinder which is controlling the stabiliser bar. Due to the oil pressure flow between the front and the rear cylinders, they will cancel each other out and not stroke, thereby freezing the stabiliser bar. This allows the anti-roll bars to perform normally, suppressing body roll to an acceptable level. However, when front and rear wheels move out of sequence in a diagonal pattern, as typically occurs when driving over rough ground, the hydraulic connection system releases on the antiroll bar and it does not twist. As a consequence, the full suspension stroke can occur without hindrance. This helps ensure excellent traction control and riding comfort, good stability and excellent rough road performance.

Advanced control technologies

On the new Land Cruiser V8 there are further world-beating, advanced technologies to give the driver complete control under the harshest driving conditions, and also enhance occupant comfort and safety. These include the world’s first Crawl Control system and the world’s first 4-wheel Active Height Control and Adaptive Variable Suspension (4W AHC &AVS).

Crawl Control, standard on petrol engine models only, gives the driver maximum control and confidence when driving on surfaces that require delicate speed adjustments such as rocks or sand. The system will automatically control the engine output and brake hydraulic pressure to maintain a steady, slow speed between 1-5 km/h. All the driver has to do is steer, allowing full concentration on the track ahead without worrying about wheel slip or spin.

Crawl Control reduces the burden on the driver, ensures vehicle stability and reduces the likelihood of damage to the vehicle by lowering stress and load on the drive train. The Crawl Control switch has three pre-selected positions (LO/MID/HI, corresponding to around 1, 3 and 5 km/h), which determine the most appropriate vehicle speed. For instance, LO would be suitable for very rough, rocky road surfaces while HI might be suitable for dune-type sections, gravel or grass. When Crawl Control is activated, the indicator will light and the slip indicator will blink when stationary, and in other specific conditions. The Crawl Control status is indicated on the multiinformation display in the instrument panel.

4W AHC & AVS

The suspension of all four wheels on Land Cruiser V8 is linked for the first time through the new fully adjustable suspension system, 4-wheel Active Height Control and Adaptive Variable Suspension (4W AHC & AVS). Spring rate control is also featured, making this the most sophisticated suspension system available in an SUV and another world first for the Land Cruiser V8.

This new suspension control system, standard on the luxury grade depending on local market, not only allows Land Cruiser V8 to achieve optimum off-road performance but also provides exceptional on-road refinement, comfort, pitch and body roll control. The new spring rate control function operates on the front suspension and is operated by onesingle control valve that influences the suspension characteristics when turning or braking. This means that the front suspension can be stiffened to reduce roll or pitch angle during high-speed manoeuvres, but softened during normal driving to ensure maximum ride comfort.

To achieve a superior performance both on- and off-road, a new mechanical system that functions as a link between the four wheels has been adopted. On-road, the balanced pressure across all four wheels ensures stability and comfort. Off-road, the movement of wheels out of phase with each other allows the hydraulic pressure to vary and releases individual wheels for easier stroking through excellent wheel articulation. This increases the ability of the Land Cruiser to soak up the bumps and offers greater ground contact, meaning rough off-road performance is enhanced.

In addition, the vehicle’s Active Height Control (AHC) functions have been enhanced to extend the range of height adjustment and shorten the time it takes to lower the vehicle. The front of the Land Cruiser V8 now has 110 mm of height adjustment while the rear can travel through 100 mm. Normal to low mode take about two seconds. The Land Cruiser is automatically raised
when L4 gear mode is selected, and further raised by 20 mm when the 4W AHC & AVS system recognises that the vehicle is stuck. It automatically lowers the vehicle when driving at high speeds to improve stability.

The Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) sub system gives greater ride comfort on-road and new control parameters have also been adopted to allow greater ground-covering performance over rough roads.

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