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"The portfolio of vehicles in Australia will alter considerably": Why it is the end of days for Toyota 70 Series LandCruiser V8

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The clock is ticking on one of Toyota's most iconic engines.
The clock is ticking on one of Toyota's most iconic engines.
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
30 Jan 2024
3 min read

Toyota says the end is coming for its venerable V8 engine, with incoming Fuel Efficiency Standards to cause its portfolio of vehicles in Australia to "alter considerably", including its popular 70 Series LandCruiser.

The delayed Fuel Efficiency Standards are expected to be finalised this year, forcing all manufacturers to review their line-ups and prioritise electrified and low-emission powertrains.

Globally, similar standards even see manufacturers penalised for failing to meet fleet efficiency standards, and have seen manufacturers shelve diesel and V8 engines.

In Australia, the 70 Series LandCruiser is one of the few remaining V8 engines available – the Nissan Patrol being another – but the brand says times are changing, and the clock is ticking, though production remains in place for now.

"We're still continuing V8 production," says Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley.

"The future of the V8 will be determined by two major factors that I should articulate. One is the environmental landscape and two is customer demand.

Toyota says the end is coming for its venerable V8 engine.
Toyota says the end is coming for its venerable V8 engine.

"Fuel Efficiency Standards will play a significant role in the portfolio of Australian vehicles, and vehicles sold in the Australian market, going forward.

"Toyota will always observe the rules and laws and criteria of the markets that we operate in. So it's quite conceivable that the portfolio generally of vehicles in Australia will alter considerably.

"Whatever we do, whatever is under the bonnet, what I can say to Australian consumers is that Toyota will continue to offer a vehicle that has the capability to do the things Australians want them to do."

Toyota has already launched a four-cylinder alternative for the LandCruiser 70 Series, and is hopeful those in the queue for a V8 powertrain will swap their order to the smaller-displacement engine.

In Australia, the 70 Series LandCruiser is one of the few remaining V8 engines available.
In Australia, the 70 Series LandCruiser is one of the few remaining V8 engines available.

For now, though, a sales stop remains for the V8 engine, with Toyota saying it will be in place until at least 2025, as it works through the existing wait list before opening the books for new orders.

There are fears, though, that V8 sales might never reopen, given the changing landscape.

"In my humble opinion, so it's not necessarily right, the only thing preventing a V8 person going to a four-cylinder would be a psychological barrier," Hanley has told CarsGuide.

"Once they drive a four-cylinder and realise its capability, I don't think it will be a hard sell at all."

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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