Toyota Australia has announced customer deliveries of its hotly anticipated LandCruiser 300 Series will be delayed.
Production of the new model has been halted during August and September, with COVID-19 restrictions in Southeast Asia resulting in parts shortages.
The company says a limited number of 300 Series models will reach dealerships as demonstrator models from early October, and test drives will be permitted where COVID-19 restrictions allow.
It’s reaching out to customers who have placed orders to keep them apprised of developments regarding their vehicles.
We’ve contacted Toyota Australia to ascertain the timeframe for local deliveries.
The parts shortages have reportedly affected the LandCruiser’s more upscale relation, the Lexus LX, with Japanese outlets reporting its launch there has been delayed too.
The parts shortages come at an inauspicious time for Toyota, with the highly-anticipated 300 Series being the first all-new flagship LandCruiser in 14 years.
The redesigned Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series will offer two new flagship models atop a pricier but more comprehensively-equipped range.
The carryover GX, GXL, VX and Sahara trim levels will slot below the new off-road-focused GR Sport and the more luxurious Sahara ZX.
Pricing is up by roughly $10,000 across the board, with the 300 Series range opening at $89,990 before on-road costs for the GX and extending to $138,790 before on-roads for the Sahara ZX.
All use a new 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine making 227kW of power and 700Nm of torque.
Those outputs are up by 27kW and 50Nm from the outgoing 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel V8.
MORE: 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 price and specs
The GR Sport, unlike other GR Sport models in the Toyota line-up, has a distinct off-road focus.
It was developed as a base vehicle for the Dakar Rally and features its own unique look, with the Toyota wordmark emblazoned across the gloss-black mesh grille, plus black 18-inch alloy wheels within black wheel arches.
Also finished in black are the side steps, door handles, mirror caps and window trim, while the front bumper and lower rear bumper are unpainted.
Inside, there’s a choice of two interior colourways: one black with carbon-look trim, and one finished in red-and-black with black instrument panel trim.
Underneath, there are front and rear differential locks and Toyota’s electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which can independently lock and unlock the front and rear stabiliser bars.
Like the flagship Sahara ZX, it also includes adaptive suspension and adaptive high-beam.
The Sahara ZX differs with a torque-sensing rear limited-slip differential. It also boasts a more luxurious look with a unique chrome grille and 20-inch alloy wheels, plus other luxurious touches like illuminated side steps.
Instead of woodgrain, there’s carbon-look trim. You can choose between black, beige and red-and-black colourways, while standard kit includes heated and ventilated seats and a hands-free power tailgate.
Both the GR Sport and Sahara ZX will be five-seat only, unlike the seven-seat GXL, VX and Sahara.
