On June 10, 2021, Toyota unveiled its latest Land Cruiser 300 Series in an online world premiere. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Land Cruiser, which started with the arrival of the first-generation BJ Series in 1951.

In Part 1, the current 70 Series and Prado chief engineer Sadayoshi Koyari spoke of how, 70 years ago, the first-generation BJ Series and its developers had already established the essence of today’s Land Cruiser: reliability, durability, and drivability on rough terrain. Inheriting the Land Cruiser’s car-making philosophy from Koyari, Takami Yokoo, chief engineer for the latest-generation 300 Series, added the following comments.

The latest Land Cruiser, the 300 Series, made its debut in Japan on August 2, 2021. This marked the first full model change in 14 years, since the release of its predecessor, the 200 Series, in 2007. To find out more about this evolution, Toyota Times visited the Sanage Adventure Field, a multipurpose outdoor attraction in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, featuring a full-fledged off-road driving course, and spoke with some of the key personnel involved in the 300 Series’ development.

Drivers rely on the Land Cruiser to “go anywhere & everywhere and come back alive & safe”, in any environment around the world. So what can they expect from the new-generation Land Cruiser, developed to comfortably handle even the harshest roads? Juichi Wakisaka posed the question to the car’s chief engineer, Takami Yokoo, and the test drivers who refined its driving experience.

The discussions held were unique despite the fact that both engineers work for Toyota. Sadayoshi Koyari, also known as “Mr. Land Cruiser,” has been in charge of developing the Land Cruiser for many years, while Naohiko Saito is the chief engineer in charge of developing the GR Yaris.

The automotive industry is going through the so-called “once-in-a-century period of profound transformation,” and user needs are also diversifying. In making cars that meet their needs, while adhering to Toyota’s tradition on the one hand, they engage in innovation on the other, which is what the Land Cruiser and GR Yaris have in common.

There are many ways to enjoy your vehicle. Some people love going for drives, others take their vehicles to the circuit for races. Some enjoy camping, tuning, or customizing their vehicles. Among these, one unique way to enjoy cars is gathering with people who love the same model and spending time together. In Japan, such gatherings are called “meetings” or “fests.” Recently, there were two such events: one for Land Cruiser 40 Series enthusiasts, and another for Land Cruiser fans in general. I attended these events, and I’d like to share what makes these “meetings” and “fests” so enjoyable.