The highly-anticipated Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series could be arriving later than expected.
A source with knowledge of the situation told CarExpert the all-new off-roader is set for a local launch in the first quarter of 2022.
CarExpert also understands the 300 Series will be officially revealed in August 2021.
Toyota Australia hasn’t confirmed launch timing or how much stock is remaining of the current 200 Series, other than it’s now “limited”. If you want one, you’d best contact your local dealer.
Photos were leaked last night of the new model, completely undisguised.
An earlier report from BestCarWeb said the 300 Series was set for a May reveal, however a semiconductor shortage is believed to have pushed out the launch.
The 300 Series will reportedly bid adieu to its twin-turbocharged V8 diesel engine, as well as the petrol V8 available in other markets.
According to a report from Japanese outlet Creative311, it’ll launch with a choice of one petrol and one diesel engine, with a hybrid petrol coming either later in 2022 or in 2023.
The diesel is said to be a 3.3-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine producing 230kW of power and 687Nm of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Unlike previous overseas reports, Creative311 says the engine isn’t a four-cylinder mill, nor is it an inline-six being developed by Mazda and shared with Toyota.
The petrol engine is expected to be a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 producing 313kW of power and 589Nm of torque, also mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The twin-turbo V6 is reportedly a version of the Lexus LS500’s engine, which suggests the hybrid powertrain could be related to that of the LS500h.
The LS500h uses a 220kW/350Nm 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 with a 132kW electric motor, making for a system power output of 264kW.
Leaks earlier this year revealed the 300 Series will be the first LandCruiser to get an automatic stop/start system.
It’ll also reportedly be the first LandCruiser to receive a GR Sport model, though rather than a sportier look it’s said to feature off-road styling tweaks including large diameter tyres on 18-inch wheels.
The new LandCruiser should see a significant upgrade in terms of safety equipment, with reports indicating the entire model range will come standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of active safety technology.
That means standard equipment should include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning.
Creative311 also reports a surround-view camera will be standard across the range, while up-spec models will add a 3D multi-terrain monitor and fingerprint detection to start the car.
We’ve already seen the interior thanks to leaks earlier this year of what appears to be a range-topping Sahara, identifiable by the heated and ventilated seat controls.
Inside the cabin, there are larger, tablet-style 9.0- or 12.3-inch touchscreens, a larger instrument cluster screen flanked by analogue gauges, and new features like a heated steering wheel and a wireless charging pad.
Pictured: LandCruiser 200 Series Sahara 
The 200 Series may be a veteran, having launched in 2007, but it’s enjoying a surge in popularity.
Despite dealer mark-ups, LandCruiser wagon sales (including 70- and 200 Series, but overwhelmingly the latter) are up 60 per cent this year to a tick over 5000 units.
“The numbers are speaking for themselves. There’s been a lot of speculation about LandCruiser 200 running out. But every month I look at the VFACTS and it’s doing pretty well. There’s still availability of LandCruiser 200 out there,” said Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales and marketing.
When the topic of potential price gouging was raised, Mr Hanley said Toyota’s franchise dealers were “free agents” capitalising on supply versus demand.
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