This JDM Toyota Land Cruiser Is Rarer That Most Hypercars
A pair of them finished first and second in the classification, marking the automaker's 12th consecutive victory in the category. The company has decided to celebrate the success by launching the ultra-limited Land Cruiser 300 Rally Raid as an exclusive special edition in Japan.A pair of them finished first and second in the classification, marking the automaker's 12th consecutive victory in the category. The company has decided to celebrate the success by launching the ultra-limited Land Cruiser 300 Rally Raid as an exclusive special edition in Japan.
Toyota is offering the Rally Raid edition components in a few different ways. The luckiest buyers can get them as a complete build, but the automaker is only building 12 of them. The dozen SUVs are exclusively available through a lottery, and the winners then have to pay the equivalent $63,526 (9,380,800 yen). Another choice is to get all the accessories as a package for $10,235 (1,511,400 yen) without installation, and this setup is also limited to 12 units, available via a lottery. Finally, Toyota is selling the pieces separately through its dealers in Japan, starting in November.
What Makes The Rally Raid So Special
The Rally Raid starts with the existing Land Cruiser GR Sport with a 3.3-liter turbodiesel V6, making 303 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, that connects to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. From there, the extra equipment includes:
Unfortunately, Toyota's announcement doesn't go into specific details about the upgraded suspension components. A translation of the Japanese-language release only says there are "suspension and cab mounts that faithfully receive the driver's intentions and steer the vehicle exactly as desired."
Inside, the cabin comes in a two-tone red-and-black color scheme. The seats feature a mix of leather-upholstered bolsters and ultrasuede center sections.
Toyota isn't giving the Land Cruiser a massive overhaul for the Rally Raid edition, but the special touches and rarity make it an attractive option. The extra pieces give the SUV a more aggressive look. Even if we don't know the specifics, the upgraded wheel-tire package and revised suspension should improve the rig's performance in rugged conditions.
Understanding The Current Land Cruiser
While we often refer to the Land Cruiser as a singular vehicle, this is actually a misnomer. There are currently three distinct iterations of the SUV on sale around the world. The Rally Raid edition uses the 300 series, which is the largest of the bunch and is available in the US as the high-class Lexus LX. Depending on the trim level and sales region, this SUV is available in five- or seven-seat configurations.
The 250 series is one step down in size versus the 300 and is the variant we call the Land Cruiser in the United States. In some places, Toyota sells it as the Land Cruiser Prado. At least in the US, the latest version of the SUV is proving successful and is on track to beat last year's sales easily. That automaker only slightly increased the model's cost for the 2026 model year, suggesting the good times could keep rolling.
Finally, there's the 70 Series, which dates back to the 1980s, but with some updates over the years. This one is available in pickup and SUV configurations. An upfitter even builds a 10-passenger version for NGOs, such as the United Nations, Doctors Without Borders, and the World Food Program.
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