The new Toyota Land Cruiser is getting a 48V mild-hybrid system that’s designed to deliver “smoother, more comfortable performance both on and off-road,” but very importantly, the company says, in no way compromises the 4×4’s “ability to operate in extreme conditions and rough terrain”.
Every new Land Cruiser sold in the UK, including the newly announced Land Cruiser Commercial van, will eventually feature the mild-hybrid set-up. It pairs the big SUV’s existing 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine with an electric motor-generator and a 48V lithium-ion battery. It’s the same system used in the Toyota Hilux Hybrid, and can contribute an extra 16bhp and 65Nm of torque.
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The main benefit is a quicker, quieter and smoother engine stop-start system, which will help when in town or heavy traffic, but the set-up also gives smoother and more consistent acceleration through the rev range to provide a more comfortable driving experience. Toyota even claims the hybrid system enhances the Land Cruiser’s already immense ability to tackle obstacles off-road.
The motor-generator is used to recharge the hybrid system’s battery, so drivers don’t have to worry about finding a plug out in the wilderness. It’s able to recuperate energy when the Land Cruiser is slowing down, with the regen function improving efficiency, Toyota says; it should also create more “natural-feeling deceleration”.
