After nearly 20 years of sales in Australia, the V8 turbodiesel engine in the 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser has officially been discontinued. Although the 70 Series continues to be popular since its introduction in 1985, the loss of the V8 will impact many customers, particularly those with pending orders.
Toyota halted orders for the 1VD-FTV 4.5-liter V8 diesel engine two years ago, which was the only eight-cylinder option available. Customers who currently have orders are expected to receive their vehicles by late 2024, but those hoping for the reopening of orders for the V8 will be left disappointed.
“Saying goodbye to the V8 signifies the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another for the versatile 70 Series,” stated Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Franchise Operations, in a conversation with Australian media. “We are collaborating closely with our production team to secure the highest possible allocation for the V8, ensuring we meet as many local customer orders as we can.”
Toyota’s choice to discontinue the V8 was largely influenced by regulatory changes. The older V8 turbodiesel engine, which has been in use since 2007, does not meet the updated emissions standards under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). However, Toyota indicated that this decision had been planned for some time, beyond just the regulatory shifts.
“While the NVES regulation influenced our decision, it wasn’t the sole factor. I wish I could say we adapted quickly from March of this year, but the truth is we’ve been preparing for this for an extended period,” Hanley explained, according to Drive.
Despite the V8 being the most favored option, many customers with reservations for the V8 have opted to transfer their orders to different engines following the announcement. Interestingly, even as the V8 is discontinued, the manual transmission remains available. Toyota will transfer the five-speed manual option from the V8 to the 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, aiming to alleviate the impact of losing the sought-after engine. Adjustments have been made to the gearing in the first, second, and third gears to compensate for the reduced low-end torque in the four-cylinder diesel compared to the V8.
Having been in the market for longer than many can remember, the Land Cruiser 70 is a true icon in Australia. While it will continue to be available for a while, the discontinuation of the V8 signifies the end of an era for many customers.
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