Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series gets new tech to stay alive
After a 10-month production pause, the automatic Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series is coming back to Australian showrooms – but the manual remains in exile.
Toyota Australia has announced the LandCruiser 70 Series automatic is now available to order once again, though manual versions of the rugged 4x4 remain out of reach.
In May last year, Toyota announced it was set to pause production of the 70 Series for eight months from September to fit the workhorse LandCruiser with an AdBlue system, critical to become compliant with more stringent exhaust emissions regulations.
While today confirming order books have been re-opened for the six-speed automatic versions of the LandCruiser 70 Series – such as the 76 Series wagon, 78 Series Troopcarrier and 79 Series ute – Toyota Australia said the five-speed manual “remains unavailable for the time being”.
“After pausing orders for certain LandCruiser 70 Series in 2025 to manage customer expectations around vehicle supply challenges, we are excited to say that order books are now back open,” said Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, John Pappas.
The return of the 70 Series to showrooms will signify the first time the model has been fitted with an AdBlue system, having been chosen as the way for it to become compliant with newly introduced emissions regulations.
From November 1, 2025, all new vehicles sold in Australia with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 3500kg have had to comply with ADR 80/04 regulations, which closely reflect Euro 6 restrictions overseas.
The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine now complies with those regulations, as the AdBlue system has been brought in to reduce its nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, spraying the substance into its exhaust.
A 20-litre AdBlue tank is now fitted to the LandCruiser 70 Series, though the 78 Series Troop Carrier has also had its fuel tank capacity reduced from 180 litres to 130 litres, matching the 76 and 79 Series.
On the 76 Series, 78 Series, and 79 Series dual-cab ute, the AdBlue refilling port is located above the front left wheel-arche with a lockable key lid, while the single-cab 79 Series has its filling port between the cab and rear wheels on the passenger side.
