UZJ100GXR

If 2015 is the same as MY2014 then it surely must be refreshed for the next MY2016???

I am not talking a new gen, but maybe a slightly updated interior, exterior and newer tech, something to keep it going a little longer before the next gen version is due, which i assume would be no sooner than sometime in 2017?

Trexus

My brother is looking to get an SUV for 2015 and I'll convince him to get the LX 570...

Justin2JZ

I really wanted a LX but those damn things are so expensive.

UZJ100GXR

For 2015 the only addition is Siri® Eyes-Free Mode.
They also dropped Claret Mica

Toys4RJill

No more Claret Mica for 2015

spwolf

i dont get it, why did you think they will do another facelift so soon? You follow LC development for so long, you know they dont update often... you guys got new interior colors, new S/C option... not sure what else is there.

UZJ100GXR

2008 - 2011 ( 4 models ) basically the same interior/exterior with engine updates/transmission updates for some markets and the usual year to year updates you get.
2010 saw the introduction of the Sport model for some markets
2011. 5.7 in the GCC

Parallel to this, 2010MY sees introduction of the 150 Prado/GX and ALL NEW Patrol

...
Facelift #1 200
2012-2015 ( 4 models ) basically the same interior/exterior design
2013 saw the introduction of the Sport model for select markets
2014 updated interior colors and S/C limited edition run
2015 no major changes ( remaining S/C vehicles will be produced during this MY - remaining # out of 200 )
( i understand the US/CANADA skipped 2012MY )

Parallel to this, 2013
1 - All new Range Rover released
2014
2- Facelifted Prado/GX, Tundra and Nissan Patrol

also the new large GM trucks, not direct competitors but worth mentioning.

I believe this time next year the update 200 would have been announced. Could be the first year they decide to sell the diesel LX and i remember reading that they will introduce the LX to the Japanese market in 2015.

spwolf

I dont really consider them adding S/C or red interior or updating infotainment a facelift though, so we have 2008 MY FMC and we have 2013 MY MMC and this is in line with Toyota corporate policy. Which also means that we wont see any changes that could be called MMC in 2015 either. It might get a diesel but thats just new powertrain, not MMC.

UZJ100GXR

I guess we just have to wait and see what they decide to do with MY2016 next year.

mmarshall

if the Claret Mica is indeed dropped for 2015, unless there are other color-changes to compensate, that will leave only five dull colors. Almost as restrictive as the Hyundai Equus, but, given the LX's relatively low sales numbers, it may not make much difference.

Carmaker1

Based on what? Studying past examples, instead of just giving simple answers will tell you that what you said is only partially true. UZJ100GXR has valid curiosity and speculation in regards to this, as the last 2 generations of Land Cruiser have not just been 1 MMC types and then redesign after 9 years since initial launch.

The LC100, originally due in 1997, was launched in the March/April 1998. By late 2000, a rash of major equipment upgrades occurred. This paralleled developmental decisions on future changes. These changes arrived in October 2002 in the form of a visible facelift. By May 2005 one last refresh occurred, just months after Toyota had started putting finishing touches on the 200 replacement due within 2 1/2 years.

That new 200 went into production in September 2007 for November launch and has been updated in early 2010 (non-US, moderate), early 2012 (worldwide, significant). Since then, nothing much has been done for other markets outside the ME. Considering that North Americans didn't receive the 2010 early spindle update, only the MY2013 stands out.

It is silly (yet realistic) that Toyota finds it acceptable to leave it visibly unchanged between early 2012 and late 2016, essentially up to 5 years. Something they've not done the past 25 years with the past 2 generations, that relatively had better laid out model life-cycles than the current model.

Yet Toyota corporate policy called for significant updates to the J80 in late 1992 and early 1995, late 1995 (new variant LX450), being phased out in late 1997? The same pattern happened 3 times with the previous generation LC100. Toyota has NEVER just made only 1 major model change to the modern day luxury-oriented Land Cruisers and called it a day. Everything else you've said has a valid point, as maybe Toyota just became relatively lazy for this generation anyway (in keeping it fresh in ALL markets) and have no future plans to improve it (likely due to expenses on replacement).

Good points and ideally informative. Don't forget that while all the focus had been on the GS spindle grille, the foreign-market 2010 LX introduced it to some degree. Just because the US didn't receive it, apparently invalidates its existence. I really don't them updating it again, as an 18 month cycle seems too short.

Unless the 300 has been delayed to 2017, it wouldn't make sense to run from 2015 to late 2016 on only one model year. Only if a 2015.5 update occurred early next year (Q1 2015), then the 300 launch being scheduled for mid-December 2016 would that be moderately feasible.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I am gunning for a 2006-2007 black LX470 at some point. I miss our 2001 (which surprisingly got shipped over to Nigeria of all places) and even though i don't need one, and it was outdated when it was new, I still think it was not only one of the best SUVs made, but one of the best vehicles made.

flyfishman

Also interesting that to date, the 200 series (LC or LX) do not offer blind spot monitoring. Pretty unbelievable for a vehicle of this class and size when it comes standard on Rav 4 and various other Toyota/Lexus vehicles. Does blind spot monitoring require a full retool or does this suggest that the 300 series is close around the corner and TMC has called it a day for the 200 series?

So, cmk1, you believe the 300 series will be introduced in late 2016 as a 2017 MY assuming no changes next year?

UZJ100GXR

Another thing i would like to point out. If we put MY aside and focus on the production years in Japan of each wagon series, we will notice a pattern.

60 series

Production years in Japan ( 1980-1989 )





80 series

Production years in Japan ( 1989-1998)




100 series

Production years in Japan ( 1998-2007 )




The 200 started production in Japan in late 2007. If we follow the chronological order of previous Land Cruiser Wagons, then the 300 should start production in late 2016 in Japan....


It is all down to MY2016, if they do not update it next year then we will end up seeing the 300 in late 2016 as a 2017MY. If it does get updated then the 300 is coming out in late 2017 as a 2018MY.


Personally, i feel the 200 still has more potential to be explored and that it will indeed get a facelift for MY2016.


If we look back at the 100.
I remember the update 2006MY 100 arrived at the port in late April 2005 and the 200 series arrived in late September 2007/Early October 2007. 29/30 months apart.

Before the MY2006 update which arrived in April 2005, the 2003MY update was released in the summer of '02.

spwolf

In US, both LC and LX sell in really small numbers to warrant equipment changes and special editions like they had in Europe and especially GCC countries. But if we consider GCC and Russia/Europe, we see that it did get enough attention with plenty of special editions like Brownstone in Russia or Supercharged in GCC.

Other for tech updates like they did now with infotainment, or new diesel for LX, I am not sure what else can they do other than full redesign... vehicle is pretty capable already and has all the tech it can/should have.