Zac Quinn 
Not long ago, Toyota updated the Land Cruiser 70 series for the 2024 model year. The vehicle features essential changes to give what was initially launched in 1984 some much-needed updates. One such change is the introduction of a four-cylinder diesel engine as an alternative to the V8. While we can crunch the numbers, sometimes a visual show can say much more, and having the old school V8 powered Land Cruiser 70 drag race against the new four-cylinder can do just that.
40 Years Later: Old vs New Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Drag Race
The epic drag race took place at Sandown Raceway in Australia for an acceleration duel to determine the performance gap between the two engines. Both Land Cruiser 70s lack a bed, which will be important when considering vehicle weight for the race. The elder Land Cruiser V8 is a single cab variety, weighing 5,046 pounds, while the 2024 four-cylinder model features the double cab body style and tips the scales at 4,797 lbs. To even the odds, the 2024 Land Cruiser 70 received around 243 lbs of ballast, so the truck weighs 5,036 lbs for the race.
As for power, the 2024 Land Cruiser featuring the four-cylinder engine has 201 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the V8 has a whopping one horse more with 331 lb-ft of torque. Both deliver peak horsepower at 3,400 rpm, though the V8’s torque comes sooner at 1,200 rpm instead of 1,600 rpm, which could make a big difference for the race down the stretch. That said, the four-cylinder has an extra 37 lb-ft at its disposal, and the eight-cylinder engine is mated to an old five-speed manual instead of a six-speed automatic. A lot more of the success of this race will be riding on the driver’s skill.
As for the drag race itself, the four-cylinder is a replacement for the V8. It’s even more prominent when considering the generation gap between the two engines. The 4.5-liter V8 has been around since 2007, while Toyota launched the 2.8-liter four-cylinder in 2015. The main takeaway is that Toyota has decided to keep its basic truck despite first entering the market in 1984, which is remarkable. Though it’s only available in some parts of the world, Australia is one of the most important markets for the Land Cruiser 70 Series. If it can keep up with the classic, it’ll continue to sell wonderfully in the land down under.
