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There have been only leaks, teasers, and delays over the past three years for the long-awaited Toyota Land Cruiser 300, the first new Land Cruiser in 14 years.

Finally, the wait is over as the V6 only 300-series has been unboxed (above).

The Land Cruiser 300 moves to a brand new body-on-frame version of the TNGA platform called GA-F, reports The Citizen while keeping the strong ladder frame construction that has always been a hallmark of its predecessors – the 200 that has been in production for 14 years.

Although, it has shed a bit of the 200’s weight whilst the dimensions remain the same – 200 kilograms, to be exact, to help achieve Toyota’s target of 10% lower CO2 emissions.

Per Car Mag, the rumours are true that the 300 will have an all-new 3,3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel engine, which produces 227 kW and 700 N.m, and is paired with a new 10-speed automatic gearbox that replaces the old six-speed ‘box.

This is the GR Sport version:

Let’s get technical:

Underneath the new Land Cruiser 300 you’ll find a redesigned suspension system which is said to offer even better wheel articulation and, off the beaten track, owners are now assisted by a Multi Terrain Select system, which automatically selects the best driving mode for the conditions at hand.

Another tech highlight is the Multi-Terrain Monitor which displays obstacles hidden in front of the vehicle.

Inside the car, there are tons of gizmos to keep the driver and other road users safe:

Including an emergency steering and crash avoidance function as well as a pre-collision system that detects cyclists and pedestrians as well as oncoming vehicles at intersections.

Wholly necessary in Cape Town, with all the cyclists and taxies zigzagging about.

While many new cars hitting the market right now are going big screen crazy, Toyota has avoided the temptation, going for a simpler high-mounted central infotainment touchscreen with analogue instruments instead:

As for the exterior styling:

Toyota is offering two rather different styling themes, with the new GR Sport model distinguished by mostly black trimmings and Toyota block lettering on the grille, while other models in the range feature a grey grille with horizontal slats and chrome trim on the mirrors and foglight housings.

To end off, here’s an image of the LC 300 and the GR Sports model together:

Alright, one video:

Toyota fans in South African will only have to wait until August to get behind the wheel of the Land Cruiser 300.

Just keep an eye out for local pricing and specifications closer to the launch date.

[sources:thecitizen&carmag]