Currently reading: Electric Toyota Land Cruiser reinvented with luxury focus

Shock concept rips up the Land Cruiser rule book; could be on sale with 621-mile range in 2026

The Toyota Land Cruiser is set to be radically reinvented for the electric era, with a preview given by a striking new concept car revealed at the Tokyo motor show.

Called the Land Cruiser Se, this rakish, futuristic three-row SUV is one of several high-profile debuts on Toyota's stand in Tokyo, alongside the keenly anticipated FT-SE sports car and FT-3E crossover

The concept's design represents a radical departure from previous Land Cruiser models – and a stark contrast from the retro-themed styling of the latest generation model that will go on sale in early 2024.

While that car – which retains a ladder chassis, combustion power and a rugged, upright silhouette – adopts a retro look inspired by Land Cruisers of old, this new concept features a monocoque bosy, which Toyota says will give "highly responsible handling" when tackling rough terrain. The styling also clearly places more of an emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and is defined by cues that bring it into line with Toyota's new-age design language.

Its rakish roofline, angled bonnet and heavily sculpted sides are the most obvious departures from its 70-year-old namesake, while the slimline wraparound light bars, rear-view cameras and low-profile tyres hint at a more overtly luxurious billing.

Toyota land cruiser se rear three quarter

Various cues – like the creased haunches, kinked window line and contrasting lower trim – look to be shared with the "lifestyle"-oriented FT-3E SUV concept Toyota previewed last week, suggesting that the two will be technical siblings with shared styling cues, interior arrangements and performance statistics. 

A prevailing theme of Toyota's Tokyo show stand will be looking ahead to its next-generation line-up of electric cars, arriving from 2026, and it is expected that the Land Cruiser Se, FT-SE and FT-3E will evolve into production cars that form part of this range.

The firm has promised the Land Cruiser Sr will offer the "high-torque driving characteristics of a battery electric vehicle".

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The brand has previously said its next-generation cars will have slimmer battery packs, which free up interior space while promoting more aerodynamic styling while still offering a claimed 621 miles of range, courtesy of advanced, energy-dense lithium-ion technology. 

It has, however, yet to give any technical details of the Land Cruiser Se concept beyond its dimensions: 5150mm long, 1990mm wide and 1705mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3050mm - making it more obviously comparable to today's full-sized Land Cruiser, sold in the US and the Middle East.

Toyota says the seven-seater concept "broadens the Land Cruiser brand's appeal" and "caters to the world's diverse needs", emphasising that it can drive quietly and comfortably in urban areas and "other on-road situations".

The concept's monocoque arrangement is based around Toyota's next-generation EV architecture, which uses a modular design and 'gigacasting' production process to reduce the number of parts involved.

Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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FastRenaultFan 23 October 2023
Toyota copying Fisker now. Hints of the Fisker Ocean or is it the Pear on the side of this.
Still it looks good.
MisterMR44 23 October 2023

I quite like the way it looks... although it does have a lot of Range Rover styling cues. Also agree with Anton motorhead... will this ever go off-road...?

Anton motorhead 23 October 2023
Looks good, but I find it hard to imagine it working it's way through virtually impassable sections of Africa. It is a true Landcruiser, right?