Toyota's no-nonsense 70 Series Land Cruiser has just received a huge beef injection with the adoption of the proven 4.5-litre 1VD-FTV 32-valve turbodiesel V8 with common-rail direct injection and intercooler.
This 4461cc powerhouse, with undersquare cylinder dimensions of 86 x 96mm, cranks out 151kW at 3400rpm and stump-pulling 430 stump-pulling Newton-metres from just off idle at 1200rpm, all the way to 3200rpm. That’s the flattest torque curve of any Toyota engine, as well as 55kW more power and 145Nm more torque than the naturally aspirated, indirect-injection, 4.2-litre, straight-six diesel that it replaces in the 76 Station Wagon, the 79 Single Cab and the 79 Double Cab.
In each case it drives through a five-speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case and part-time four wheel-drive with manual free-wheeling front hubs, and Toyota quotes the same combined-cycle fuel consumption for all three derivatives - 11.55 litres per 100km.
Bear in mind, however, that's in rear-wheel drive mode on tar - any big beetle-crusher will get seriously thirsty on difficult terrain and this V8 is no exception.
NUTS AND BOLTS
The 1VD-FTV is the first Toyota engine with a graphite-iron cylinder block; the inlet air passes through an air-cooled intercooler and separate electronic throttle valves for each cylinder bank, before reaching the inlet ports.
A crossover pipe balances the exhaust pressure between the two cylinder banks and the variable-nozzle turbocharger is liquid-cooled.
Toyota recognises that high under-bonnet temperatures can be a problem in heavy-duty off-roading, so all 4.5-litre Series 70 Land Cruisers also have a fuel cooler, a linear temperature-controlled coupling for the radiator fan and a warning switch on the fuel filter.
THE RANGE
All turbodiesel Series 70's have power steering, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking and a 12V accessory connection.
In keeping with its role as a people carrier for up to five people, the 76 station wagon boasts carpeted flooring, satnav, a radio/CD planer with auxiliary USB port, colour-coded and chromed bumpers, grille and overfenders, aluminium side steps and 16" alloys. For 2013 it also gets a 130-litre fuel tank and a spare wheel cover.
The 79 single cab has colour-coded and chromed exterior trim, front foglights, colour-matched overfenders and a combined fuel capacity of 180 litres.
The latest addition to the Land Cruiser range, the 79 double cab, doesn't come with overfenders and alloy rims are an extra-cost extra - but it has extra creature comforts in the shape of satnav, audio and a USB port. Fuel capacity is 130 litres.
PRICES
Land Cruiser 76 Station Wagon 4.5 V8 D-4D - R587 500
Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 4.5 V8 D-4D - R527 000
Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab 4.5 V8 D - R567 600
All new Land Cruiser 70 Series models come with a three-year or 100 000km warranty.
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