Earlier this year, Toyota unveiled its latest-generation Land Cruiser Prado, and amidst the SUV’s debut, the company provided a glimpse of two additional Land Cruiser models in the pipeline—a Compact Cruiser EV and a bZ Concept.
Toyota has recently sought a trademark for the name “Land Hopper” in its home market, Japan. According to reports, this moniker might be assigned to Toyota’s upcoming compact Cruiser model. Speculations suggest that the unveiling of the smaller Land Cruiser could take place as early as the 2023 Japan Mobility Show scheduled for the end of October.
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Although specifics about the Toyota Land Hopper (Compact Cruiser) remain unclear, sources indicate that the model won’t be exclusively electric. Instead, it is expected to offer petrol, diesel, and potentially hybrid engine choices.
While Toyota has not officially disclosed technical details, potential engine options range from a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid akin to the Corolla Cross to a 2.8-litre diesel found in the Hilux pickup. For the electric variant, reports propose that the drivetrain currently under development for the Tacoma in the US could be adapted for use in the Land Hopper.
The Land Hopper is anticipated to utilize a truncated version of the GA-F platform, shared with models such as the 300-series Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, and the new Lexus GX. Internally, Toyota is said to dub the forthcoming Compact Cruiser as a “Jimny Killer.” The SUV is expected to have dimensions of 4351 mm in length, 1854 mm in width, and 1880 mm in height, with the length encompassing the tire carrier mounted on the rear boot lid of the SUV.
