Toyota’s Land Cruiser line-up is expanding rapidly. After unveiling the all-new Land Cruiser FJ at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, the brand is now developing yet another Land Cruiser model—one that will be even smaller, more urban-friendly, and based on a monocoque platform. This marks a major shift for the legendary off-road nameplate, traditionally known for its ladder-frame architecture.
A New Direction: Monocoque Land Cruiser
At the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Toyota showcased two important concepts:
- Toyota EPU BEV pickup
- Land Cruiser Se concept
Both are built on a new monocoque chassis, making them the first Land Cruiser-family vehicles to move away from ladder-frame construction. The production version of the monocoque pickup is expected in 2027, followed by the monocoque Land Cruiser SUV in 2028.
This new model will not be a hardcore off-road machine like the LC300 or LC250, but rather a practical, tech-rich, city-friendly SUV—yet still carrying the Land Cruiser design DNA.
Positioning: Even Smaller Than the FJ
The newly revealed Land Cruiser FJ measures about 4.57 metres in length and is already confirmed for India with local manufacturing planned for 2028.
The new monocoque Land Cruiser is expected to be even smaller, likely in the 4.3–4.4 metre range, making it a compact or mid-compact SUV.
This places it directly in the segment dominated by:
- Hyundai Creta
- Kia Seltos
- Maruti Grand Vitara
- Toyota Hyryder
- Upcoming Tata Sierra
- New Renault Duster
- Nissan Tekton
Toyota’s newcomer will target this massive-volume space with a rugged design + modern monocoque comfort, potentially becoming a unique alternative in the segment.
Design: Modern Yet Rugged
The Land Cruiser Se concept showcased the design direction:
- Sharper body panels
- Futuristic surfacing
- Sleek LED lighting
- Conventional SUV stance
- Shorter height (1,705mm, which is 165mm lower than the LC250)
This suggests that the new model will blend Land Cruiser heritage with a more urban-friendly, aerodynamic form factor.
Expected Powertrain Options
Toyota has not confirmed final powertrain details, but possibilities include:
1. Full Electric (BEV)
- Dual-motor setup
- 4WD capability
- High torque output
- Likely based on Toyota’s DIRECT4 AWD torque distribution tech
2. Strong Hybrid (HEV)
Given Toyota’s Indian strategy and market demand, an HEV option is almost certain.
3. AWD Expected
Even in monocoque form, Toyota is expected to offer 4WD / AWD, ensuring the “Land Cruiser” badge stays true to its capability promise.
Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV)
The smaller Land Cruiser will be a full-fledged software-defined vehicle, running Toyota’s upcoming Arene software platform. This will allow:
- Over-the-air feature upgrades
- Advanced driver assistance integration
- Predictive drive systems
- Continual improvement via cloud updates
India Plans
With Toyota’s rapid expansion and India’s strong SUV demand:
- Land Cruiser FJ is confirmed for India in 2028, with local production.
- The new monocoque Land Cruiser SUV is also highly likely to be introduced here, positioned as a rugged premium alternative in the 4.3–4.4m segment.