Designed to win: all-new Toyota Land Cruiser honoured in Topgear.com awards
The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser 250 has collected its first major honour, named the Design of the Year in the 2023 Topgear.com Awards.
Announced at a ceremony hosted in London yesterday, the award is a perfect prelude to the latest generation of the all-conquering SUV reaching the UK’s roads in 2024.
Tom Ford, Topgear.com Associate Editor, said: “In a market of faux-roaders and Chelsea tractors, it feels like the new Land Cruiser 250 strikes the right balance. In taking inspiration from the past and stripping back the Land Cruiser to a more athletic, more honest, more characterful vision Toyota has, frankly, nailed it.”
The new model’s exterior lines blend tradition with modernity and project its ability to tackle the harshest conditions. The chunky, tough look expresses the “back to its origins” quality of the new Land Cruiser, but is also highly practical with off-road performance helped by shorter overhangs, sculpted corners and a narrowed lower body.
The interior offers a choice of five or seven-seat configurations, with a design that evokes the strength and functionality of an authentic off-roader. This is witnessed in details such as the horizontally arranged instrument panel and switches that are shaped for easy operation, even when driving over challenging terrain.
The driver’s all-round visibility has been given priority, helped by the low-set cowl, horizontal instrument panel and a lowered belt line that allows deeper side windows to be fitted.
The references to Land Cruiser’s design heritage are even stronger in the limited-run First Edition version that will be part of the initial launch programme. This displays special styling features including classic round headlights and a bi-tone exterior paintwork finish.
The new Land Cruiser will go on sale in the UK during the first half of 2024; further details will be announced in the New Year.
ENDS
