Toyota Land Cruiser's Seven Decade Journey and Engineering Approach: A Chat with Top Engineers (First Section)

The Land Cruiser, a symbol of rugged reliability and unmatched off-road prowess, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The journey of this iconic vehicle began with humble roots and a dash of determination.

In the 1950s, Toyota's first-generation BJ Series was overlooked by the U.S. military in favour of Mitsubishi's CJ3B Jeep. This rejection served as the catalyst for the development of the Land Cruiser. Hanji Umehara, who oversaw the BJ Series development, was confident that the car they had made was as good as any jeep. This conviction, rooted in the model's rocky start, became the foundation for the Land Cruiser's success.

Umehara believed that "a car without (the developer's) confidence will not inspire trust". This philosophy was embodied in the Land Cruiser's development, which involved extensive testing and development in challenging off-road conditions across Australia and Turkey. The team even learned from the story of Heikuro Magaki, an early Edo-period equestrian master who climbed the stairs of the Atago Shrine on horseback, demonstrating the vehicle's capabilities in a zigzag ascent and descent on Mt. Fudo in Okazaki City.

Fast forward to the present, and the Land Cruiser lineup consists of three series: the Heavy Duty 70 Series, the Station Wagon, and the Light Duty Prado. Takami Yokoo, who began his involvement in Land Cruiser development in the mid-2010s, served as chief engineer for the 300 Series. Yokoo's "genchi genbutsu" experience involved visiting Australia as part of the 5 Continents Drive Project to understand local conditions and customer needs.

The Land Cruiser's trusted reliability can be traced back to the original model, 70 years ago. Today, it continues to be a vehicle that allows drivers to "go anywhere & everywhere and come back alive and safe". This reputation is not unfounded - Toyota has produced over 10 million Land Cruisers, making it one of Toyota's most successful models.

The Land Cruiser is used in various ways across different countries. In Africa, the practical aspects of the 70 Series make it the dominant choice, but there is also significant demand for Station Wagons from international organizations involved in humanitarian aid, medical care, and educational activities. In Japan, 90% of Land Cruisers sold are Prados, while in the Middle East, station wagons make up the majority.

Recently, Toyota announced its lunar rover, named the "Lunar Cruiser", as a counterpart to the terrestrial Land Cruiser. This latest venture further cements the Land Cruiser's reputation as a vehicle that conquers the most challenging terrains, both on Earth and beyond.

As the Land Cruiser 300 Series marked its 70th anniversary with its debut on June 10, 2021, it continues to inspire trust and confidence in its drivers, just as Umehara envisioned. Koyari, known as "Mr. Land Cruiser", is currently in charge of the 70 Series and Prado, and has been involved in Land Cruiser development since 2001. Under his guidance, the Land Cruiser legacy continues to thrive, ensuring that the spirit of adventure and unyielding reliability lives on.

Toyota Land Cruiser's Seven Decade Journey and Engineering Approach: A Chat with Top Engineers (First Section)