Toyota launched the 13th-gen Land Cruiser a couple of months back. Moniker’d the Land Cruiser 300, this new generation succeeds the Land Cruiser 200 that was in production for 14 years. It is, however, forbidden fruit in the U.S. as the company has pulled the plug on it here. Just as the hype of the new SUV was dying down, a report by Creative311 has brought it back to the headlines.

According to the publication, Toyota is asking the owners not to sell their SUV within 12 months of purchase, citing global security. In fact, the company is even making the owners sign the dotted line and make it a contractual agreement. How about that!

Why Doesn’t Toyota Let You Sell Your Land Cruiser?

The reason behind isn’t ridiculous, honestly. It is done to stop letting it get into the hands of terrorist groups. Back in 2015, U.S. officials questioned how ISIS managed to get so many Toyota Hiluxes and Land Cruisers. Toyota had even let out a statement that said,

The company further added, “We are supporting the U.S. Treasury Department’s broader inquiry into international supply chains and the flow of capital and goods in the Middle East.”

Land Cruisers are known for their tough build and reliability and have been a favorite with the terrorist groups. To make sure it doesn’t land up with them, Toyota is getting owners to commit to not resell their cars within 12 months of the purchase. If you fail to do so, you’ll be barred from buying another Toyota ever again.

Is There Any Other Reason?

Not as serious as the first reason, but this is from a monetary point of view. The new Land Cruiser may not have seen the light of the day Stateside, but it is a runaway success around the globe, especially in its home country. Toyota had noted that it received 22,000 bookings for the Land Cruiser 300 in Japan. There are high chances some people buy it and sell it at a profit given the demand. This way, the SUV will be available to the folks who actually want it and not just flip it over for profits.

The publication noted that the dealer who sold originally sold the Land Cruiser could also get in trouble and will not be allowed to sell Land Cruisers for a certain period of time. Damages will also be claimed from the dealer of the violating customer.

What’s So Special About The Land Cruiser 300?

The 2022 Land Cruiser is new on the inside and out. It isn’t coming to the U.S., but the automaker could bring it here with a Lexus badge in the form of the LX SUV. Here are some salient features of the Land Cruiser 300:

-* Based on a new GA-F platform based on the TNGA that underpins other Toyota products like the Tundra

-* 440 pounds lighter than the previous model

-* Upgraded suspension setup with an electronic kinetic dynamic suspension system

-* Diesel and gas 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engines

-* Diesel option makes 304 ponies and 516 pound-feet of twist

-* Gas option produces 409 horses and 479 pound-feet of torque

-* Both options mated to a ten-speed automatic gearbox

-* Multi-terrain monitor and Multi-terrain select function for improved off-roading

-* Boxier style with a prominent grille

-* Redesigned bumpers

-* Landscape-oriented touchscreen system inside

-* Flip-down third-row seats instead of flip-sideways

-* The 2021 Land Cruiser 200 was priced at $85,600. This one would’ve been around $90,000 in the U.S.