I met my old friend Joshua M'Ndeo the other day. He used to be a car dealer in one of those African countries that once had a likeness of our king on their stamps.
It was Joshua who supplied the 14 Toyota Land Cruisers used by a famous TV presenter on his solo journey across Africa. "Land Cruisers are very adept at negotiating difficult terrain," explained Joshua, in an accent that would be familiar to listeners of the BBC World Service, adding, "They combine this aptitude with the degree of comfort demanded by itinerant celebrities."
I don't think he meant to imply that globe-hopping TV presenters are not prepared to rough it on occasions, but seldom do you see them bouncing about in an old Land Rover. Why should they? The Toyota Land Cruiser has impressive off-road credentials and will do most things expected of a Landy without inflicting ABH on the great and wonderful.
Yet I doubt if many European buyers of Toyota's doughty 4x4 ever realise just what lurks under its softly contoured shell. And the latest Invincible model, as tested, delivers the highest level of off-road technology ever to enhance the Land Cruiser marque. And at a pinch, the five-door model will accommodate eight passengers, or 5+3, at any rate.
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impressive off-road credentials |
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'Focus on technology' is how Toyota describes the vast array of mechatronics intended to relieve the driver of any appreciable risk when venturing off the beaten track. Standard on the Invincible are downhill assist, uphill start assist, active traction control, semi-active automatic suspension (known as TEMS, and more of which, later), height-adjustable rear suspension, and vehicle stability control. And all of these at a touch of one or more buttons.
Traditional off-road assistance is supplied by locking centre and rear differentials, a limited-slip differential, a low-ratio transfer 'box, and permanent four-wheel drive.
And as if to underline its go-anywhere credentials, the Land Cruiser dispenses with unitary construction (body and platform in one) and instead relies on a strong ladder-frame chassis onto which is bolted the body. It may sound old-fashioned, but a body-on-frame construction adds strength and durability.
It also adds weight: the 5-door model, powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine, tips the scales at 2.2 tonnes, unladen. To shift all that weight calls for plenty of muscle so it is a little surprising to discover that the Land Cruiser has only a 4-cylinder engine. But it is billed as having '...the highest torque output of any four-cylinder diesel engine.' If you think about it, each cylinder has a swept volume of 0.75 litres, and have you seen how fast a 750 cc motorbike can go?
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