South Africa's biggest automotive marque will debut seven products throughout the year, of which two are fully electric.
Shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, the Land Cruiser FJ has been approved for South Africa. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe
Toyota used its annual State of the Motoring Industry (SOMI) conference on Thursday (12 February) to confirm no less than seven products for South Africa this year.
Focusing largely on the C and D-segments, the new additions will consist of six SUVs/crossovers and one hatch from the Gazoo Racing division.
What’s coming?
Land Cruiser FJ
Taking centre stage, the retro-styled Land Cruiser FJ will arrive as the spiritual successor to the FJ Cruiser.
Based on the same ladder-frame IMV 0 platform as the Hilux and Fortuner, the FJ will be available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, the latter equipped with a low range transfer case as well as a locking rear differential.
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While a launch date is still to be revealed, the FJ will be similar to the international model on the power front.
Never developed to have a diesel engine means it will use the stalwart normally aspirated 2.7-litre petrol outputting 120kW/246Nm. The only transmission option is a six-speed automatic.
New RAV4
Joining the FJ in the same segment, but aimed at a different market, is the all-new sixth generation RAV4.
Similar to the FJ, a date of reveal is still unknown, however, Toyota did approve both combustion, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, plus three trim levels; GX, VX and the first-time on local soil GR Sport.
Land Cruiser 300 HEV
Following upscale sister brand Lexus’ LX, the hybrid Land Cruiser 300 will make its debut as the likely replacement for the normal petrol model.
Confirmed is the availability of the hybrid on the mid-spec ZX and flagship GR Sport.
bZ4X
On the EV side, the much delayed bZ4X will finally go on-sale in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.
Toyota claims a range of between 450 km and 480 km, and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.1 seconds on the most powerful variant.
Lexus RZ
Joining the bZ4X, its Lexus sibling, the RZ, will also finally arrive in three distinct versions.
In single motor EX and SE forms, the 80.5-kWh battery produces 280 kW and 300 kW in the F Sport.
The flagship RZ 600 F Sport, meanwhile, will have an output of 315 kW, plus a steer-by-wire steering system with a yoke-type steering wheel.
GR Corolla DAT
On the GR side, the updated GR Corolla will make its debut fitted with the same eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT) as the GR Yaris.
Toyota has also confirmed that it will produce the same 210kW/400Nm as the GR Yaris instead of the 224 kW made internationally.
Facelift Corolla Cross GR Sport
Having not been part of the facelift model’s launch last year, the GR Sport version of the locally manufactured Corolla Cross will finally make its arrival in 2026.
As before, buyers will have the option of the normally aspirated 1.8-litre petrol or the self-charging 1.8-litre hybrid powerplants.
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