Toyota is working on a flagship Gazoo Racing version of the upcoming 300 Series LandCruiser, according to a new report from Japan.
Reports from Japanese website creative311 claim the long-awaited LandCruiser 300 will be the first with a Gazoo Racing-branded flagship, as Toyota tries to build its burgeoning sporty badge.
Update, 10:00am 21/10/20: Toyota Australia has issued the following statement about the chance of a LandCruiser GR
“We have no announcements on the future of LandCruiser today, however we would not rule out a GR version of LandCruiser at some stage in the future as we continue to expand our Gazoo Racing product offerings.”
A range-topping LandCruiser would form a part of the wider Gazoo Racing range expected to launch over the coming years. Toyota Australia is using the GR Yaris to kickstart the brand in Australia, and has trademarked the names GR Corolla and GR HiLux.
The next-generation 86, a twin to the Subaru BRZ, is expected to be badged GR86 as well.
“I can see GR brand escalating in this country over the next five to 10 years very quickly,” Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley told media earlier this year.
When it arrives, the Japanese report says the LandCruiser GR could be powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8.
Japanese media has previously reported Toyota is working on an engine with the same displacement for the next-generation Tundra, its large pickup truck rival to the Ford F-150.
However, long-running rumours about the 300 Series – the launch timing of which hasn’t been officially confirmed – say the all-new LandCruiser will be powered by a range of V6 turbo petrol and turbo-diesel engines, along with a V6 petrol hybrid.
The current-generation LandCruiser 200 (above) has been on sale for 12 years, and is powered by a 4.5-litre twin-turbocharged diesel V8 engine producing 200kW of power and 650Nm of torque.
