As most motorists know, the Toyota Land Cruiser has been the byword in off-road rugged reliability for many, many years. Ancient versions still roam the wilder places of Earth, seemingly unstoppable. A while back in 2024, MHH International introduced the new Toyota Land Cruiser and it has proved a huge success. It looks great and has lost none of its considerable abilities. Now, to enhance the vehicle’s emission credentials the Japanese brand is powering the Land Cruiser into the new era of motoring with the adoption of its first electrified drivetrain.
Toyota Land Cruiser Hybrid
This premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) now offers better economy and lower emissions. The new Land Cruiser Hybrid 48V introduces a mild hybrid system that delivers smoother, more comfortable performance both on and off-road, with no compromise on the SUV’s ability to tackle the most challenging terrains.
Launched last year, the all-new Land Cruiser combines the model’s long-established strengths of quality, durability and reliability with new technologies and distinctive design that blends contemporary lines with heritage details. It is apparently built on the Toyota ‘New Global Architecture’ body-on-frame platform for greater strength to tackle challenging conditions while delivering composed, reassuring on-road behaviour.
The Hybrid 48V system combines Land Cruiser’s existing engine and eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission with an electric motor-generator. The components are designed and positioned to withstand harsh environments, so the vehicle’s capabilities are undiminished. The benefits include a smoother, quieter and more responsive engine stop-start system and smooth, linear and powerful acceleration from start-off.
Toyota’s Hybrid 48V system
Toyota’s new mild hybrid system has been designed for simple integration. Being more compact than the Toyota full hybrid system found on other models, it can be more easily fitted to existing power-trains without requiring significant redesigns or re-engineering. Thanks to this, the Hybrid 48V power-train is also recently introduced to the new Toyota Hilux pick-up as well.
The Hybrid 48V system uses the Land Cruiser’s established 2.8 litre turbo-diesel engine and introduces three principal new components: an electric motor-generator, which replaces the conventional alternator; a 48V lithium-ion battery; and a DC-DC converter which controls the energy flow battery and motor.
The system in no way compromises the Land Cruiser’s ability to operate in extreme conditions and rough terrain. For example, the motor-generator has been positioned high on the engine block so that the vehicle can still wade at low speed through water up to 700mm deep.
Electric motor-generator
The electric motor-generator is driven by the engine and in turn charges the lithium-ion battery. It brings multiple benefits to the driving experience, both on-road and off. For example, it provides a regeneration function, recovering energy every time the driver comes off the throttle using engine braking. This is then used to provide the engine’s stop-start function and support acceleration, minimising waste. It also improves efficiency, makes driving easier and produces natural-feeling deceleration.
In on-road driving, acceleration when pulling away and deceleration are smooth and linear, contributing to a more composed and comfortable ride. On rougher, off-road surfaces, the motor-generator adds to the Land Cruiser’s ability to tackle obstacles.
The operating status is indicated in the driver’s multi-information display with a read-out showing energy regeneration, with ‘Eco’ and ‘Power’ options.
Stop-start performance
The Hybrid 48V system enables quicker and quieter engine stop-start performance with less shock, making for an easier and more comfortable drive in traffic. As the motor-generator is always connected, there is less delay in immediate engine restarts after stopping. It also allows for restarts at high engine speeds.
The system will operate an auto-stop when driving in heavy traffic, or when the driver accidentally restarts the engine by reducing their pressure on the brake pedal.
The driver can set their preference for stop and start performance, selecting NORMAL or LONG in the vehicle’s multi-information display. When choosing LONG, the engine’s idling stop time is increased when the air conditioning is operating.
When the vehicle is on an uphill gradient, there may be a slight delay between engine restart and the generation of drive torque. As an auxiliary function, the stop and start system will maintain the brake pressure until sufficient drive torque is generated, to achieve a smooth start-off. Also, when the vehicle is on a level surface, the system offsets any excess drive torque produced on restart.
Injection volume control has been optimised to support the system’s responsiveness, balanced against the level of shock experienced during acceleration.
Lithium-ion hybrid battery
The 48V lithium-ion hybrid battery has 13 cells and a 4.3Ah capacity and weighs just 7.6kg. Designed with compact internal components, it is integrated beneath a revised deck board layout, helping limit the impact on overall load space.
When fully charged, it can supply up to an additional 12kW of power and 65Nm of torque to the power-train at start-off. Both the hybrid battery and the low-profile DC-DC converter are protected against water ingress, and as much cooling air as possible is drawn into the battery from the front of the vehicle, with a lower temperature than the cabin air. A filter helps prevent the build-up of dust in the battery’s cooling paths and a fan helps prevent battery performance deteriorating in high temperatures. Additionally, the motor-generator operates with a two-arm belt tensioner which has been designed specifically for use in diesel engine vehicles and to meet the demands of rough-road driving. As well as providing the required the level of belt tension, it also provides restart assistance and improved acceleration response. Noise and vibration performance is on par with petrol (gasoline) engine vehicles, incidentally.
MHH International Export Toyota Vehicles
MHH International export new and used cars from many prestige manufacturers from the UK to worldwide destinations like Kenya and New Zealand. There is a full list of destinations served on our Home Page. If Toyota vehicles, especially the mighty Land Cruiser, are of interest then you can see the current MHH International stock on this page. If you have any special requests our dedicated team will be glad to help and also advise on export-friendly VAT-free options too. Please get in touch to find out more.
