Goodbye to the Land Cruiser as we know it – Toyota unveils its first 48V hybrid model with greater efficiency and off-road power

Toyota just made our mouths water by giving a new approach to its already iconic Land Cruiser 48V Hybrid. A new version, a new direction, but it keeps all the robustness and the reliability that comes with any Toyota.

Hybrid, it improves response, reduces fuel consumption, and offers much quieter performance. The engine combines a 2.8L diesel block with an electric generator and a 48-volt battery, all designed to withstand even the harshest conditions. Are you seriously not drooling yet? At a time when electrification is gaining ground, Toyota is betting on a simple, tough hybrid ready for the roughest challenges. Want to know more?

Toyota’s bet on hybrids

The big innovation of the 48V Hybrid Land Cruiser is its ability to move through rough terrain without giving up efficiency, something many feared and that, so far, Toyota seems to have overcome.

While many hybrid SUVs are made only for the road, this Toyota is still the same off-road warrior as always, only now more refined.

Tell me about the Land Cruiser

Launched at the end of 2024, it combines quality and durability, mixing the new with the classic. Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture body-on-frame platform, it’s even tougher than its non-hybrid version and much more versatile.

What makes this SUV special?

The mild hybrid system relies on three key elements: a 2.8L engine, an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, and a lithium battery with a DC-DC power converter.

The system is more compact and integrates more easily into the drivetrain, a 48V hybrid system that has also been added to the new Toyota Hilux.

Electric motor-generator, what is it?

Permanent magnets in a synchronous unit that are driven by the engine and, at the same time, charge the lithium battery. How? Exactly, this system (which is also faster and quieter) allows energy recovery every time the driver lifts off the accelerator using the brake, activates the stop-start function, and minimizes fuel waste. Isn’t that a great idea?

Acceleration is also more progressive thanks to the electric assist, making driving more natural and comfortable both in the city and on dirt roads.

Start-stop system

Even though many of us hate it, this system (which shuts off when you hit the brake) promises to be fast and quiet in this car and allows the engine to restart at high speeds.

Plus, the driver can choose between normal stop or long stop to save as much as possible.

Hybrid lithium battery

48V, 13 cells, and a capacity of 4.3 Ah, and it only weighs 7.6 kg. It can deliver up to 12 kW of power and 65 Nm of torque to the drivetrain at start-up.

Reinforced components

Toyota has designed a special dual-arm belt to handle the generator’s work under the harshest conditions. The belt material includes cotton and aramid fibers that maintain performance even when driving through water or under stress.

Also, the tensioner mechanisms are sealed to prevent the entry of mud and dirt, ensuring uncompromised durability.

Toyota hasn’t electrified just for the sake of it. Instead of chasing headlines with a 100% electric SUV, it has chosen a realistic, durable solution that fits with the Land Cruiser’s philosophy: go anywhere, with reliability and no fear of what lies ahead. And the best part is, global markets will open orders soon. We can’t wait to see it on the streets!