Toyota's->ke88 commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Land Cruiser 70 by doing something it's never done before. The Japanese automaker is reintroducing the model, except that it's going to be limited to its local market. I don't know if I speak for everybody here, but I'm completely jealous that Japan's getting exclusive dibs on the re-released Toyota Land Cruiser 70. All 200 planned models, to be exact. It doesn't seem fair, does it?

To make things interesting, Toyota’s also producing a double-cab pickup->ke242 version of the Land Cruiser 70, which will also be limited to the Japanese market.

Granted, I’m not that excited about the pickup version as I am about the traditional enclosed body classic. The latter model speaks to a level of nostalgia you don’t see in today’s models anymore. I’m counting those retro-inspired ones, too.

If I knew that Toyota->ke88 was considering re-releasing the model due to widespread requests in Japan, I’d be screaming for the model to go Stateside. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that Toyota will do that, leaving me with no other choice than to just drool over these photos. Such a shame.

Click past the jump to read more about the Toyota Land Cruiser

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser 70

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser 70
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 228 @ 5200
  • Torque: 265 @ 3800
  • Transmission: Five-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

You’re not going to see a completely different Land Cruise 70 from the one that we saw 30 years ago, but that’s why this model’s so appealing. It’s like Toyota removed the covers of the old Land Cruiser models, and then did some tweaking to the grille and hood while also adding modern headlight indicators.

There are also a pair of 30th anniversary commemorative emblems featured on both sides of the vehicle, just in case people mistake this model as the original Land Cruiser 70s from 30 years ago.

Exterior Specifications

Model

SUV

Pickup

Length

189.4

207.5

Width

73.6

69.7

Height

75.6

76.8

Wheelbase

106.3

125.2


Interior

It’s the same story with the interior. The old cabin design was retained for this purpose, although the instrument panel now has a different layout compared to the older model.

The original pyramid-like transmission casing does make an appearance in the re-released Land Cruiser 70, giving it that true-to-the-original feel. The dashboard is also similar to the old one, and the knobs are all right where they used to be. Even the door inserts and the seats carry similar designs from the original version.

Drivetrain

The re-released Land Cruiser 70 is powered by an updated, 4.0-liter, V-6 engine that comes with an aluminum block and features VVT-i technology. This allows the engine to produce 228 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The engine mates to a five-speed manual transmission.

Toyota didn't release any performance numbers, but I expect the Land Cruiser 70 to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around nine seconds to go with a top speed of around 120 mph.

Drivetrain Specifications

Engine Model

1GR-FE

Displacement

3955 cc

Maximum Output

228 horsepower at 5,200 rpm

Maximum Torque

265 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm

Transmission

Five-speed manual


Pricing

Toyota's charging a lot for these throwback Land Cruiser 70 models. The SUV retails for 3.6 million Yen, which is about $34,642 as of 9/5/2014, while the pickup version costs just under 3.5 million Yen, which is around $33,680.

Competition

Jeep Wrangler

How do you find a suitable competitor for a limited edition SUV/pickup that carries an old-school design with splashes of modern technology? The only one that comes to mind is the Jeep Wrangler, although such comparisons are only because the Wrangler also sticks to an old-school-inspired design.

In terms of its engine, the Wrangler carries similar performance credentials, thanks in large part to its 3.6-liter, Pentastar V-6 that produces 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The Pentastar V-6 mates to either a five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual unit.

Conclusion

I love the sense of nostalgia the Land Cruiser 70 exudes, but I am a little upset that it's not coming to the U.S. At the very least, shouldn't Toyota have allocated at least a handful of models here? It's not like Japan and other Asian countries are missing out on the Land Cruiser, as it's still sold in a lot of those countries.