Inside-out Toyota’s new LC70-series workhouse
What a better way of starting and ending a week with a refreshing and more engaging like what Toyota the global automotive leader did last week when Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), the local ally attracted corporate fleet buyers and individual stakeholders to come and see and test-drive the old war horse Toyota Land Cruiser LC 70-series inside the Old Parade Ground Abuja.
The workhorse was tested for two days (October-21-22) before a gathering that witnessed the presence of both the military and paramilitary hierarchy. Others are players in the mining, engineering and construction sectors for which the legendary Pick-up was targeted at; the message is simple and clear.
That is that the LC-70 Pick-up is a winner any day, anytime going by it’s tougher, stronger and flaunts more powerful credentials than other rival brands under the segment. It will also be useful for farmers and rural small business owners that need to cart a small crew and enough equipment in the back.
During my recent trip to Pretoria for an industry event, I had a brief period to spend with the LC70 double cabin Pick-up and the entire was more exciting as it was alos revealing about some of the fresh ideas that the Japanese car builder has injected into the debutant model.
On the road, it is about as comfortable and as high-tech as an outback that there is plenty of head room for tall occupants. You sit so high that you can conveniently look out over the roofs of other four-wheel-drives. It’s clearly built as a working tool.
The 70 Series LandCruiser is at the opposite end of the automotive spectrum to a sportscar, and so you don’t expect the handling to be its forte. Rather, the robust ladder frame chassis, leaf-spring rear suspension, off-road tyres, high centre of gravity and slow steering are designed to tackle the rough stuff rather than the twisty lanes.
According to a TNL source, the newest member of the Land Cruiser 70 family was borne out of a real need to have a vehicle that combines the carrying capacity of a pick-up with the flexibility of a double cab. The source said the arrival of the best in-class 4-liter LC-70 into the Nigerian market was in response local to market demand who are looking for a vehicle that can deliver value at affordable cost without a compromise.
Available for the two days driving inside the Old Parade ground for the existing faithful and new converts into the Toyota family are the aurally stimulating petrol power plant on the double cab. Power comes in at 170 kW at 5600 rpm and torque is pegged at 360 Nm at 3800 rpm.
Toyota LC70 is powered by a six-cylinder 4-liter, 24 valve direct overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine with variable valve timing (VVT4). Apart from being offered with five-speed manual transmission and electronic fuel injection, it is equipped with rigid axle (coil) suspension in front and rigid axle (leaf) suspension at the rear.
Dose of comfort and convenience features in the LC70 include electric power steering, central locking, radio/CD player, air-conditioning system, USB/Aux, high grade seat material. Safety features include driver/passenger airbags, front seat belt pretension and force limiter. ABS, immobilizer and fog lamps.
All models come standard with a differential lock, five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drive system with hardy low-range transfer box for staggering off-road ability. Please note that the new ABS braking system operates when the vehicle is in H2 and H4 modes (except when differential locks are engaged).
As before, brakes are ventilated discs at the front but all 70-series models have made a massive leap forward in technology with the addition of rear disc brakes. While on the subject of safety, driver and front passenger airbags are standard across the board and the characteristic extended front bumper prevents unnecessary airbag response when doing hard-core off-roading.
Suspension is the proven combination of live axles front and rear with coil springs at the front and leaf springs bringing up the rear. The latter rigid axle rear suspension ensures that occupants are always comfortable. Bear in mind though that a spring rate that favours ride quality over absolute load carrying capacity is used for both the coil and leaf springs on the double cab as opposed to the heavier duty spring rate of the single cab Pick-up. Also worth noting is the impressive ground clearance.
It has a modest space that can carry five adults in comfort without sacrificing the one-ton payload (1005kg for the petrol model). Land Cruiser’s legendary toughness delivers go-anywhere carrying capacity in style.
In other emerging economies like Nigeria, it can perform pretty well at mine and construction sites. And just for the records, this Toyota Landcruiser LC70 series has earned an enviable reputation for versatility, ruggedness and dependability.
MIKE OCHONMA