New Engine Unveiled for Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: Surprising Discovery
When it comes to cars, one rarely expects a complete overhaul of the engine. However, recent photos of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2024, spotted in Melbourne, Australia, have left car enthusiasts speculating about the new drivetrain in use.
Toyota Australia’s spokesperson confirmed that “the car here is part of the regular work of global development engineers” and “usually relates to technical specifications not specific to Australia.” Beyond that, no further details were disclosed.
Strange Sightings in Australia
The appearance of the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in Melbourne has attracted attention for two reasons.
Firstly, this particular model features round headlights and the Toyota logo on the grille. In contrast, the 2024 version of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, already unveiled, has a boxier shape, rectangular headlights, and the word “Toyota” on the grille. Currently, only China has been introduced to the Prado 2024 with round headlights.
Secondly, the design and features of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2024 are no longer a secret, as it has already been launched. The schedule for the introduction of the Prado with rectangular headlights in Australia later this year is already set.
The newly spotted car has a few differences compared to the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado that was already released (left). It seems to be a similar model to the Prado 2024 in China with round headlights (right).
However, this raises questions about why Toyota would camouflage the Land Cruiser Prado in Australia.
From the captured images, it can be observed that this particular Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is equipped with sport seats made by the Japanese manufacturer, Bride.
Will Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Feature a New Drivetrain?
According to Australia’s leading automotive website, Drive, a logical explanation is that the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado will feature a new drivetrain. The Japanese automaker has brought this version to Australia for testing purposes.
Although it was launched with two options, a turbo-diesel engine and a petrol-electric hybrid, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2024 will only be available in Australia with the combustion engine version. This is due to Australia’s right-hand drive, as Toyota has confirmed that there are no plans for a petrol-electric hybrid with right-hand drive.
Nevertheless, Toyota has experience with hydrogen fuel cell engines, investing in this technology and showcasing it in the Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). Toyota has also exhibited prototypes of the Hilux and HiAce that use similar technology.
In 2023, Mitsumasa Yamagata, director of Toyota’s hydrogen plant, revealed to Japanese media that the company was considering applying hydrogen fuel cell engines to “heavy” vehicles like the Land Cruiser.
Furthermore, Keita Moritsu, chief engineer of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, once told Automotive News that the company is considering replacing the powertrain on this SUV model. “Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we need to consider multiple paths,” he said, indicating the possibility of developing multiple versions, including hydrogen fuel cell, plug-in hybrid, and/or fully electric.
The new engine could possibly be a hydrogen fuel cell. Photo: Toyota
Around the same time, Toyota’s global chief of design, Simon Humphries, also mentioned that there are many options for the future of the Prado. “Who knows what is best for the Land Cruiser? We need to have a lot of discussions,” he said.
Therefore, it is highly possible that the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado appearing in Australia will feature a hydrogen fuel cell engine. However, it remains unclear which type of hydrogen fuel cell engine Toyota will provide. The Mirai uses a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity for the vehicle, with water vapor as the only byproduct, while the HiAce prototype uses a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine running on hydrogen instead of gasoline.
It is still uncertain if this is the beginning of Toyota’s testing phase for a hydrogen-powered Land Cruiser Prado. What can be confirmed, at the very least, is that Toyota is working on something it doesn’t want the world to know about just yet.
Potential Drawbacks of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Engines
Regardless of the type of hydrogen fuel cell engine, the main drawback is the limited availability of hydrogen refueling stations. Although companies like Toyota and Hyundai have established some refueling stations, they are still scarce compared to gasoline stations. This poses a challenge for widespread adoption and practicality of hydrogen fuel cell engines.
Another drawback is the power output. The twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 hydrogen engine used in the Lexus LX600 and Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series, which runs on gasoline, produces 409 horsepower and 650Nm of torque. In contrast, the hydrogen-powered engine used in the HiAce prototype only generates 161 horsepower and 354Nm of torque.
Toyota has previously collaborated with Yamaha to produce a hydrogen-powered version of the naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 engine used in sports cars like the Lexus RC F and LC 500.
Despite these challenges, Toyota’s commitment to hydrogen fuel cell technology indicates a strong possibility of seeing more hydrogen-powered vehicles in the future.