A so-called baby Land Cruiser is expected to hit showrooms some time in 2024, according to two recent reports from Japanese magazines Best Car and Magazine X, which have a history of providing inside information on new Toyota vehicles. The reports state that the smaller Land Cruiser will be the production version of the Compact Cruiser EV concept, which was unveiled in 2021, and also known as the “Lite Cruiser” or the “Yaris Cruiser”.
The production version of the Compact Cruiser is expected to get an electric driveline derived from the one used in the upcoming Toyota Tacoma EV due to launch in the U.S. market.
It would also share its sturdy ladder frame, according to the reports, rather than the TNGA-C car-derived architecture used for the Corolla Hatchback and Corolla Cross crossover. As for size, it will measure 171.3 inches long, 73.2 inches wide, and 74 inches tall, according to Magazine X.
Look for the production model to sport circular headlights and a tailgate-mounted spare tire. Online illustrations show a vehicle that appears to have its design roots in the Toyota FT-4X Concept shown as far back as 2017, but with a far more rugged demeanor. The Toyota FT-4X Concept was designed at Toyota’s Calty Design Research Inc. in Newport Beach, California, its name an abbreviation of Future Toyota Four-Wheel Drive Crossover.
Certainly, extending the Land Cruiser into other sizes would transform the Land Cruiser into a sub-brand. It’s a tactic expertly executed by Ford with the full-size Bronco and compact Bronco Sport SUVs. Given the Land Cruiser is as iconic as the Bronco, it would make sense for Toyota to follow in Ford’s footsteps.
When asked to confirm the accuracy of the reports, Toyota officials had no comment.
