Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series Pickups Get A 70th Anniversary Edition

Earlier this year, Toyota introduced the 70th Anniversary Special Edition of the legendary Land Cruiser 70 Series for the Australian market, and now the manufacturer plans to introduce an identical vehicle in South Africa.

In contrast to Australia, which received 600 vehicles of the 70th Anniversary Special Edition split into 320 double cabs, 200 single cabs, and 80 wagons, South Africa will only receive an unspecified number of single-cab and double-cab pickups dubbed Land Cruiser 79. 

Aside from the 70th-anniversary insignia, the flagship-grade level features a reworked grille with Toyota writing, a snorkel, an off-road bumper with an incorporated bull-bar, a hood scoop, a metal rear bumper, and a new bed cover. With conventional 16-inch alloy wheels and 265/70R16 tires, the vehicle is offered in either Ivory White or Sand Beige.

Regardless of body style, Land Cruiser 70 Series features a good 235 mm (9.3-inch) ground clearance, a 33° approach angle, and a 27° departure angle for off-roading. The overall length of 5,245 mm (206.5 inches) and the 3,180 mm (125.2-inch) wheelbase is similar in both variations. The rear bed can store up to 1,005 kg (2,216 lbs) of goods and has a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs).

The turbocharged 4.5-liter V8 diesel engine develops 202 hp(151 kW / 205 PS) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.  If you're curious about the performance, the max speed is 160 km/h (99 mph).

Land Cruiser 70 Series has been upgraded multiple times since its introduction in 1984, with the most recent makeover providing a more modern interior. The anniversary model in South Africa lacks the fancy steering wheel, wood trim, and leather upholstery included in the Australian version, but it does have a 6.1-inch infotainment display with Navigation and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto connection. Manual air-con, bottle storage, automatic windows, a lockable glove box, and an anti-theft system are among the standard features.

In South Africa, the Land Cruiser 70th Anniversary Edition is already available for R889,700 ($54,869) for the single cab and R943,100 ($58,162) for the double cab.