Realigned Land Cruiser 70-series range has also seen the V8-powered 76 station wagon being dropped.
Having made its debut in Australia last week, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has officially confirmed availability of the manual gearbox on select version of the 2.8 GD-6 engine Land Cruiser 70-series.
Responding to The Citizen after the five-speed ‘box’s debut Down Under in Friday, the brand stated that only the single cab 79 and 76 station wagon will be outfitted the three-pedal layout, the former being alternative to the six-speed automatic.
A contrast to Australia where the 76, 78 Troop Carrier and double chassis cab version of the 79 are offered with the transmission, TSAM also confirmed that arrival of the manual 76 has resulted in the 4.5 D-4D option being dropped, though it remains available for now on the 79 double cab with the local market 78 still making do with the normally aspirated 4.2-litre straight-six diesel.
Priced at R887 000, the manual 79 has a credit of R30 100 over the automatic, while the three-pedal 76 is the same R30 100 cheaper than the equivalent LX automatic at R969 800.
While likely to the formally detailed soon, the introduction of the manual on the 2.8 GD-6 comes with the same 150 kW output, but a 50 Nm reduction in torque to 450 Nm.
As in the Australia, the ‘box is likely to have the same differences as that used in the V8, namely a new flywheel, triple synchronisation on first gear, a new flywheel, a 12-inch clutch and revised ratios as a means of reducing fuel consumption and engine noise at high speeds.
“When we discontinued the V8 Land Cruiser 70 Series earlier this year, we know there were some customers lamenting the absence of a manual gearbox in the range, so we wanted to ensure we were able to offer all our customers a range of powertrain options and this new manual fits the bill perfectly,” Toyota Australia’s Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, said in a statement after the manual ‘box’s reveal.
For the moment, expectations are that the manual ‘box won’t result in any specification changes over the relative automatic, though it will loose the centre console-mounted gear lever and Hill Descent Control in the case of the 76.
Price
76
- Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 LX – R969 800
- Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 LX AT – R999 900
- Land Cruiser 76 2.8 GD-6 VX AT – R1 091 400
78
- Land Cruiser 78 4.2D – R900 100
79
Single cab
- Land Cruiser 79 4.0 V6 – R765 500
- Land Cruiser 79 4.2D – R829 000
- Land Cruiser 79 2.8 GD-6 – R887 000
- Land Cruiser 79 2.8 GD-6 AT – R917 100
- Land Cruiser 79 4.5 D-4D – R956 200
Double Cab
- Land Cruiser 79 4.0 V6 – R864 600
- Land Cruiser 79 4.2D – R920 800
- Land Cruiser 2.8 GD-6 AT – R1 009 000
- Land Cruiser 4.5 D-4D LX – R1 039 200
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