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Nicely, all of us knew it was coming, and certain sufficient, a number of days in the past, Toyota introduced that it’s shutting down the 18-year run of the 1VD-FT 4.5L V8 turbo diesel that powers almost half of all the 70 Sequence workhorses which have ever been constructed.
It was inevitable, actually, tightening emissions necessities and what Toyota presumably paradoxically refers to as “buyer expectations” will seemingly all the time take their toll on bigger engines. I imply, the truth that 10 corporations put out 33% of the world’s greenhouse gasoline emissions and 100 corporations put out over 70% of the worldwide complete is irrelevant. Let’s preserve focussing on private-use automobiles fairly than imposing any regulatory sanctions on these wilfully pumping dangerous gasses into the air with out repercussion… however I digress; we’re right here to have a good time the passing of a legend, not speak in regards to the fumbling forms that killed them.
The place was I? Oh yeah, since 2007, the 1VD has been the go-to engine for 70 Sequence (and 200) homeowners. Referred to as a torquey, understressed and dependable powerplant, it has been the epitome of every part the LandCruiser model has been constructed on for the final 70 years. Nevertheless, the writing has been on the wall for over two years now, again when Toyota “paused” taking orders for V8s. Even so, manufacturing will proceed into 2025 as Toyota tries to accommodate the orders it has already obtained from prospects eager to get their palms on the final of the eight-cylinder icons.
The 1VD is being changed by the engine already discovered within the newest 70s, the two.8L four-pot turbo-diesel, variations of which have been discovered within the Luxies and Prados of the final nine-ish years. It’s not at all a nasty engine, placing out 150kW and 450Nm of twistery, which Toyota is fast to level out is 20Nm greater than the outgoing V8. However there’s torque from a low-revving, low-stress eight-cylinder engine and torque from a highly-strung four-banger utilizing half the cylinders and extra (decrease) gears to pump out related numbers – which one would you anticipate to last more hauling a tray stuffed with concreting gear? However once more, I digress.
The information ain’t all unhealthy. They’ve additionally introduced a return of the 5-speed handbook within the four-cylinder. It has shorter first, second and third gears, a taller fifth for freeway economic system, and a 12-inch clutch and flywheel combo, so it needs to be fairly stout. You do must marvel why they didn’t simply go for a 6-speed handbook like they need to have again in 2007, however let’s not get slowed down in an excessive amount of negativity right here.
To be truthful, Toyota Australia is doing what it might to maintain the “outdated trustworthy” workhorse alive. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Gross sales Advertising and marketing & Franchise Operations, encourages any fanatic of the V8 to affix the rising variety of four-cylinder converts who’re discovering the brand new engine much more succesful. “Each right here and in Japan,” Mr Hanley says, “Toyota was decided to return the loyalty of our prospects by devoting important assets into making certain the 70 Sequence stays an important a part of our line-up for years to come back. The one various was to stroll away from the mannequin – and that was not an possibility.”
You need to really feel for car-makers within the present local weather. Emissions necessities, rightly or wrongly, are successfully hamstringing the manufacturing of, dare I say, “enjoyable” engines. However it’s not all unhealthy. Evan Spence, in our sister magazine Unsealed4X4, stated that the four-cylinder LandCruiser positively doesn’t suck and that, for lots of people, it’s truly the higher selection in real-world phrases. The handbook transmission simply additional opens it up as a viable choice to those that desire the three-pedal shuffle over the “put it in D” brigade.
Are we unhappy in regards to the V8’s demise? Sure, unequivocally. However hopefully, there’s nonetheless loads to look ahead to for the LC70s within the coming years. The king is useless; lengthy reside the king.
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