History of Toyota "Land Cruiser" born in Japan and active all over the world

Cross-country vehicles Toyota has continued the series for over 60 years "Land Cruiser(Commonly known as "Land Cruiser") goes back to its origins to the military cars of the 1950s. High running performance and durability, and in recent years the history of Ranfurcu which has come to have ride and luxury facilities abundantly incorporated into the automobile related YouTube mediaDonut MediaIt is summarized in a movie.

Toyota Land Cruiser - Everything You Need to Know | Up to Speed ​​- YouTube


From Africa's flames and dry ground ......


To the harsh environment of the Arctic Circle closed by snow in extremely cold ... ....


Toyota / Land Cruiser is the car that is active in such an environment.


The Land Cruiser goes through a muddy road like a swampy road ......


Even on the rocky road, it has a running performance that can go oniony.


Donut Media's James Breadfree comes to Salt Lake City, UtahLand Cruiser Heritage Museum. It is a museum which gathers only landcruisers literally and more than 100 models of all the past have been exhibited.


The history of "Land Cruiser" begins in 1951.


Its roots, from World War II to the US ArmyCaptureIt is in the "AK10 type" four wheel drive vehicle that it was developed based on the military vehicle "Jeep" that was developed (awkward) four small type freight car. Based on this, in 1951 the prototype vehicle "Toyota · Jeep BJ type" was completed.


This vehicle was developed with the aim of delivering to the police reserve party (the present Ground Self Defense Force) at the time.


However, at the time of the Korean War that occurred at that time, production was also carried out as a vehicle used by the US Army, bringing great benefits to Toyota.


The Korean War is settled by the truce battle agreement signed in 1953.


However, Toyota hopes to continue production of BJ type. The reason is "to make money."


And in 1955, a new land cruiser called "20 series" appeared.


This model was developed as a vehicle incorporating the performance as a passenger car, escaping from the BJ type that was a military vehicle itself. Initially "FJ 20" equipped with gasoline engine, and "BJ 20" with diesel engine later appeared.


James says that this 20 series became the cornerstone of Toyota later. If there is no 20 series, then "SUPRA" ... ...


"MR 2" is not born ... ...


And it may not have been born "AE86" which is popular in the world "Hachiroku".


Toyota has been producing automobiles since 1936.


Toyota intended to enter the US market after the war, but the Toyota Crown that I input was not consistent with the market needs, and due to overwhelming performance shortage, it finally became a sale stop situation I will fall.


That was the reason why the sales of North America Toyota (now "TMS") was supported was the "20 series" Land Cruiser that was introduced at the same time.


After that, it was said that the expansion of distribution channels with this combination of "Crown × Land Cruiser" was done all over the world. In this way, Toyota has confirmed its presence worldwide.


Here, we explain the letters used in the model of Land Cruiser. "F" is an in-line six-cylinder gasoline engineF type engineIt means that it is equipped.


"B" is an in-line four-cylinder diesel engineB type engine (first generation)Meaning of mounting.


"H" is an in-line 6-cylinder diesel engineH type engineIt means mounting.


And "J" is a symbol signifying "Land Cruiser" at Toyota. However it is said that its origin is in "Jeep".


And the last number means the length of the car body. "40" to "42" mean "short wheel type".


"43" "44", skipping one "46", "medium foil base type"


And "45" and "47" mean "long wheel base type".


According to this rule, it is understood that the land cruiser of "FJ 44 type" has the character of "a medium wheel base type land cruiser equipped with an inline six-cylinder gasoline engine".


I will return the story to the history of Land Cruiser. In 1960, "40 Land Cruiser" called "Yomaru" will debut. This model is a model that was produced over 24 years until 1984, and there are many people who also say "Young mar" is "Langrule.


By around this time the technology of vehicle production improved greatly, and Yomaru improved quality compared to 20 series.


In addition, by reviewing the gear ratio setting, the running performance on rough roads has also improved greatly.


As series 40 production continues, "55 series" Land Cruiser appeared in 1967. It is a model that is distinct from previous routes and features a body design that is strongly conscious of passenger cars.


The 55 series with the most pretty look during the rankuru series is basically a model developed to target the usability of "station wagon" which is a type of passenger car. A nickname attached for its distinctive style ... ...


It is said that it was "Iron Pig" (iron pig).


The 55 series can be said to be a model that triggered a major shift in the flow of landcruisers that had been a practical one to date.


The Land Cruiser started walking on the current route is the "60 series" Land Cruiser, commonly known as "Rocumar", which appeared in 1980.


The 60 series is an epoch-making model meaning that comfortable performance has been greatly improved while keeping the "off-road performance" contained in Land Cruiser's DNA high.


The interior design is also completely luxuriously enhanced with comfort as a passenger car, and a model equipped with a sunroof called "electric moon roof" was also prepared.


However, landcruisers based on cross-country vehicles will naturally face limitations in pursuing performance as "passenger cars".


The largest part of the driving system is "Rigid axleIt was to use a method called called. This refers to a structure where the left and right tires are connected by axles.


The rigid axle has a simple structure, ensuring high reliability and easy repair. In addition, it can be said that it was perfect as a land cruiser as a cross-country vehicle in order to be able to improve the running performance on rough roads.


However, the front rigid axle, in particular, had the disadvantage that it was difficult to improve ride comfort. In order to solve this problem, Toyota will introduce a model that adopts soft springs. By this, it is said that the running performance on rough roads has also improved.


The "70 type" Land Cruiser of the 1984 debut, "Nanamaru" is a model that appeared as the successor to "Yonmaru" which boasted a long life of 24 years.


Improvements to improve durability such as further refining Yonmar's excellent performance as a cross-country car, thickening the wall thickness of the body panel, etc. are added, the performance of "Land Cruiser" high rough road is inherited and performance not ashamed of its name It was a model equipped.


After that, Land Cruiser follows the path of evolution as a luxury SUV. "80 series" Land Cruiser who made its debut in 1989 is a model that makes the interior and exterior luxurious while maintaining the runnability on rough roads.


It was developed with many requests from the United States and Australia which was the main market at the time.


It was a land cruiser that was made in consideration of running performance on rough roads, but in the real America there was a reality that most people use for town riding. Land Cruiser with a large car body and easy to use was widely used for SUV-like applications where the whole family moved and moved.


However, the performance of the original cross country car was not forgotten. Land Cruiser is said to be the most harsh in the world in 1996Paris · Dakar · RallyYou win the championship with no commercial cars modified.


In the rally of the time, it is required to run through the vast land of Africa almost without anyone's help, and high reliability and durability are indispensable there. In such a race, we participated in a non-retrofit version of a commercial car and won the victory so that the high performance of Land Cruiser was recognized again.


After 1996, Land Cruiser has demonstrated overwhelming strength by achieving the six consecutive victories from 1998 to 2003 and from 2005 to 2011 twice in a row, from 2014 to 2017 four consecutive championships.


In 1998, "100 series" Land Cruiser replacing the 80 series debuted. In addition, it is a model that raised the luxury property and in Japan it is also called "Celsior of the off-road world".


However, the running performance, reliability and durability remain high, and the United Nations adopted it as an active vehicle is also a high evaluation of its performance.


In order to improve comfort and handling, independent suspension suspension was used for the front wheels in 100 series. However, despite the fact that the derivative model "105 series" adopting the same rigid axle as before was appearing to enhance the running performance on bad roads still wanted, it can be said that it is a landcruiser-like episode.


Although it was a land cruiser that seemed to be a running lane cruiser which seemed to have deteriorated by the introduction of an independent suspension type suspension, Toyota introduced a suspension that can change the height of the vehicle hydraulically, and by introducing a four-wheel controlled traction control function, We have secured the running performance.



In 2002, improvements such as "Night View" for the purpose of securing night vision by near infrared are set as options are also added.


In 2007 after that, the current type "200 series" land cruiser debuted at the time of article creation. It is a model that raised the level of interior and exterior even more luxuriously, while leaving the runnability that we inherited from the past as it is.


One of the features is that various electronic control devices are introduced for improving running performance. Crawl control "which realizes vehicle stability by automatically controlling the engine and brakes by maintaining subtle speed control such as steep slope road and maintaining extremely low speed, is the world's first installed.


The crawl control can control the four wheels individually and produce the maximum driving force. Therefore, it will show its power even when getting out of sandy lands and muddy road surface.


It is a 200 series land cruiser with improved quality of interior and exterior, but its off-road performance is still high. Land Cruiser has developed as an exclusive SUV that can be used in urban areas, while still retaining the features as a full-fledged cross country vehicle that has been built from its birth.