Toyota might be prepping new Land Cruiser SUV and pickup with unibody build

Toyota appears to be preparing for a major shift in its iconic Land Cruiser line, with reports from Japan hinting at an entirely new direction for the brand’s long-running off-road legend. After introducing the smaller FJ model for select Asian markets, the company is now said to be working on two new models that could reshape what the Land Cruiser badge stands for.

Industry insiders quoted by Japan’s Best Car magazine claim a new SUV and a companion pickup are in development. If confirmed, the pair would move away from the model’s traditional ladder-frame setup that has defined the Land Cruiser since 1951. That structure helped build its reputation for durability and strong off-road ability. The next generation, however, is expected to favour a lighter unibody design aimed at smoother on-road driving and better fuel efficiency.

A turning point for the Land Cruiser name

This possible shift recalls two concepts Toyota displayed at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023: the EPU electric pickup and the three-row Land Cruiser SE SUV. Both concepts relied on battery power and all-wheel drive, signalling Toyota’s growing interest in blending practicality with cleaner technology.

According to the report, the forthcoming pickup is likely to borrow design ideas from the EPU concept. That model stretched 5,070 millimetres in length and included an extendable rear bed, a feature that would set it apart from the Hilux, Tacoma, Tundra and the revived Land Cruiser 70 Series, all of which continue to rely on classic body-on-frame architecture.

Toyota has not disclosed its chosen platform for the new vehicles. Even so, analysts believe production versions could evolve from the company’s e-TNGA electric framework or switch to a fresh unibody base that supports hybrid systems. Such flexibility would reflect Toyota’s ongoing multi-pathway strategy, where electric, hybrid and conventional powertrains are developed in parallel.

Early indications suggest the new SUV could reach the market in 2026 to mark the Land Cruiser’s seventy fifth anniversary. The pickup may follow in 2027 if development stays on track.

North American launch on the cards

Perhaps the most significant development is the possibility that both models will be offered in North America. Reports suggest the electric Land Cruiser variant may be built in the United States, a move that would help Toyota navigate tariff pressures and support the company’s growing investment in local manufacturing.

Toyota recently outlined plans to inject ten billion dollars into its US operations, strengthening the case for new models to be assembled there.

Company officials have also spoken openly about the need for a more affordable pickup for American buyers. The upcoming Land Cruiser SUV and pickup could fit that role, placing Toyota in direct competition with future electric trucks from Ford and other rivals. An electric or hybrid Land Cruiser pickup would also give Toyota an entry in the segment that is slowly shifting towards compact and mid-sized electric trucks.

For now, nothing is officially confirmed. Yet the signs point to a broad rethink of the Land Cruiser’s future, one that blends its familiar legacy with a more flexible and modern lineup. If Toyota follows through, the next decade could bring some of the most significant changes the nameplate has seen in its seventy plus years.