GXS

First of all here is the link to an article about the GX470's sister in Dutch: http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/?id=6377





It's sister is called the Toyota Land Cruiser. Plain TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. It's predecessor was the Land Cruiser 90 but they dropped the "90". It's still based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 90 but it's almost completely new from the ground up. It was designed in Europe also, as well as the GX 470. The article gives some technical info, features, and specifications.

GXS

Another thing I forgot was an engine option. They don't offer a V8 though but they do offer a V6 as an option. It's a 4.0 L V6. It makes 250 HP and 382 Nm (Newton meters) of torque at 3,200 rpm.

Lxcruiser

I was in Suriname, South America a couple days ago on business and I saw a Toyota Prado, Toyota Land Cruiser & a Toyota Cygnus at a local Toyota Dealership. From what I understand is that the Lexus GX470 is just a upscale version of the Toyota Prado like the Cygnus is just a upscale version of the Toyota Land Cruiser/ LX470.

I personally think when I see a piece of news about the GX470 being an upscale version of the 4-runner that it was just a misunderstanding of some sort because the GX470 is clearly the sister of the Toyota Prado! I just don't know why the magazines and national car publications are making such a mistake.

Toyota Prado - has the 3.4-litre V6 petrol motor, full-time 4WD, dual air conditioning and 8 seats. The manual transmission model is priced from 49,660, the automatic from 52,190 ( 5/2001).


http://www.4wdonline.com/Toyota/Prado/Prado.html

GXS

LxcruiserL: Yes it's true, the Land Cruiser Prado is also called the Land Cruiser 90. But the GX470 is going to be an ALL NEW SUV, all new Land Cruiser 90/ Land Cruiser Prado. It's not going to be a rebadged version of the current Land Cruiser Prado/ Land Cruiser 90.

pbm317

LXCruiser,
The new Lexus GX470 and the upcoming 4Runner are BOTH based on the Land Cruiser Prado platform. This moves the 4Runner off of it's old Tacoma platform mate. So yes, the GX is indeed a luxury version of the 4Runner from a basic standpoint.

GXS,
It's interesting that they call it simply the Toyota Land Cruiser.. as in the LX forum we've been discussing the demise of the LX/Land Cruiser platform. Now this would be the larger Land Cruiser platform. Toyota is apparently planning to stop the LX/LC after 2004. The LX will then be replaced by a luxury version of the Sequoia. So it's all coming into place now....

tigmd99

PBM,

I believe the 3rd generation (1996-2002) 4Runners are NOT based on any truck platform. It does share a few similarities with the Tacoma, but most of the frame, front axle differential, etc. are different. Toyota has emphasized this point ever since it's introduction in 1996. Before 1996, the 4Runner was indeed based on the Tacoma.

Thanks.