Toyota just showed off a limited edition model of its iconic Land Cruiser. It commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Land Cruiser family, the very first model of which debuted on August 1, 1951. Yes, you heard that right, since the Land Cruiser is 70 years old, what better way to celebrate than with a limited edition of one of Toyota’s most iconic models that is still in production to this day. However, this special edition, based on the top-of-the-line GXL trim of the 70 series, will only be available in select markets around the world.

Overview

The Toyota Land Cruiser 70 is an icon among the 44 models in the Land Cruiser 70s lineup. The Toyota Land Cruiser J7 is nearly indestructible. Not only has Jeremy Clarkson demonstrated this spectacularly on "Top Gear” before, but Toyota has also maintained this reputation since 1984.

We recently wrote an article on the 70 series Land Cruiser. The fact that the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 is on the market 37 years after its debut demonstrates that there is still a need for robust SUVs in some parts of the world. The off-roader is currently available as a new car in regions like the Middle East, Australia, and Africa, where dependability is more important than any other purchase factor.

To put that into perspective, even today approximately 10,000 new Land Cruiser 70s are sold in Australia annually. Other customers who continue to rely on this type of vehicle, include non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and major mining operators.

What’s Different About The 70th Anniversary Edition?

This special anniversary edition predominantly packs in cosmetic changes. The biggest difference, though, is with the front grille, which now bears the brand name rather than the Toyota badge. Elements such as the distinguishing bumper, the main headlights, and the foglights are now finished in black.

Inside we find a black-upholstered interior, including a leather steering wheel with ornate wood trim that is carried over from the Hilux.} Keeping with the times, an infotainment system with a 6.1-inch screen and extra USB connectivity are also included.

Performance

The choice of engines remain unchanged. Other things that have been carried over include the 130-liter fuel tank and the five-speed manual transmission. In addition, the air intake has been increased. There is also a gear reduction and limited-slip differential for both front and rear axles. The towing capacity is 7716 pounds.

However, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 is a worldwide workhorse and it is available in various regions with simpler engines. For instance, engines like the 1HZ inline six-cylinder 4.0 liter naturally aspirated diesel that produces 126 horsepower and 206-pound feet of torque, or the 1GR-FE gasoline engine which is also a 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque.

Conclusion

It seems that the Land Cruiser 70 series isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, the SUV is due for yet another update in 2022. The special edition seen here will be available as either a single or double cab, as well as a Station Wagon version. It will go on sale in September 2021. International pricing converted to US Dollars comes in at around $57,500. Production is also limited to just 600 units.