2010 Toyota Land Cruiser news, pictures, and information

	Vital Stats
Engine : 5.7 L., 8-cylinder Power: 381 hp Torque: 401 ft-lbs
6-speed Automatic

In off-road driving situations, the KDSS allows the wheels on each axle to move wîth a larger degree of side-to-side independence, helping to minimize any tendency for wheel lift. During cornering, when both front and rear cylinders are compressed, no fluid is flowing in the system and the stabilizer bars work conventionally to help reduce body lean. When an uneven surface is encountered, one compressed cylinder causes fluid to flow between the front and rear cylinders, allowing the stabilizer bars to move freely. This action increases wheel articulation and travel, as well as helps to equalize wheel loading. By allowing the stabilizer bars to disengage in certain situations, the nominal stiffness of the bars can be notably increased, thereby reducing body lean and improving handling without negatively affecting ride comfort or off-road performance.

Land Cruiser rolls on P285/60 R18 mud-and-snow steel-belted radial tires mounted on 18 x 8.0-inch aluminum alloy wheels wîth a high-gloss finish and include a full-size spare tire. The Land Cruiser has a maximum payload of 1,585 pounds and maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The brake system employs 13.4-inch ventilated discs wîth four-piston calipers up front and 13.6-inch ventilated discs at the rear. Variable gear ratio power-assisted rack-and-pinion §teering requires just 3.1 turns lock-to-lock. Gear ratio is set larger around the §teering center and smaller around the end position.
The newly developed JF2A transfer case provides full-time four-wheel drive. This lightweight, compact, chain-driven unit offers a standard 1:1 high ratio for road travel and a low-range 2.618:1 ratio for traversing challenging driving surfaces, such as steep inclines. The system uses a TORSEN® limited-slip locking center differential to distribute power 40:60 front-to-rear, directing more power to the wheels wîth the best grip should slippage occur. Traction control (TRAC) employs both brake and throttle intervention to help control wheel spin. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), wîth a cut-off switch, helps maintain directional control during cornering.

The Crawl Control feature helps make traversing difficult terrain easier. With the transfer case shifted into low range, Crawl Control regulates engine speed and output (along wîth braking force), to propel the vehicle forward or in reverse at one of three low-speed settings. This allows the driver to maintain focus while §teering over very rough level ground or steep grades, without having to also modulate the throttle or brake pedals. Crawl Control includes Downhill Assist Control (DAC), which is designed to augment the low-speed ascending ability of low-range by holding the vehicle to a target speed wîth practically no driver intervention. Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) provides additional control for off-road driving by helping to keep the vehicle stationary while starting on a steep incline or slippery surface.

For towing convenience, the Land Cruiser has a towing connector and sub wiring harness to connect a commercial trailer brake controller.

Safety
The Land Cruiser utilizes welded high-strength sheet steel, especially in the A-, B-, C- and D-pillars, and in the rocker area to increase rigidity and reduce weight. The B-pillars are designed to help absorb side impacts and transfer them into the rest of the body structure where they dissipate.

Like all Toyota SÚVs, the Land Cruiser comes standard wîth the STAR Safety System. A new, four-wheel multi-terrain anti-lock braking system (ABS) automatically selects the optimal ABS profile to provide the most suitable brake force for on- and off-road driving surfaces. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) employs the multi-terrain ABS to properly balance braking forces between the front and rear brakes, while Brake Assist (BA) provides auxiliary force to assist the driver during emergency braking. Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) helps maintain traction during acceleration by controlling engine output and braking forces to the wheel, distributing the drive force that might have been lost to the wheels and tires that have traction. VSC wîth a cut-off switch, helps maintain directional control during cornering by manipulating engine torque and individual wheel-braking influence if it detects tire slippage.

When the National Police Reserve Forces (now called the Japan Self-Defense Forces) was first established it depended entirely on the Ú.S. Military for all of its equipment, however very quickly it was urged that domestic sources of supply be developed. Part of the motivation was to create a base in Japan through which the Ú.S. Military could procure military vehicles for use throughout the Asia region, but Japanese automakers were asked to produce prototypes for compact 4x4 trucks and other vehicles.