Toyota says the launch of the new Toyota Land Cruiser is a landmark in the history of one of its most enduring models.

Caption goes hereFor more than 50 years the Land Cruiser has established a heritage of strength, reliability and rugged performance.

Replacing the Land Cruiser Colorado, the new Land Cruiser will be offered with a choice of two engines: a new 4.0-litre V6 petrol unit and Toyota's latest generation 3.0-litre common rail turbo diesel. The turbo diesel will be available from launch on January 2, with the V6 following from March next year.

Available in three and five-door body styles, with the 'wide body' styling treatment on selected models and four distinct trim levels - LC2, LC3, LC4 and LC5 - the new Land Cruiser offers a wider market appeal than ever before.

On-the-road prices will start at £23,995 for the LC2 three-door diesel with manual gearbox. All new Land Cruisers will come with a three-year / 60,000-mile warranty and three-year paint and 12-year anti-perforation warranties, in line with all other new Toyota models.

Toyota says the new Land Cruiser is one of the most technically advanced vehicles to be launched, equipped with a series of electronic systems designed to make driving on and off-road safer, more refined and more pleasurable.

These include a world first with the introduction of electronic Hill-start Assist Control (HAC). This detects if the vehicle begins to slip backwards or develops wheelspin when starting on an uphill gradient and automatically adjusts the braking and wheel rotation to allow a controlled get-away. It forms one element of the Brake Control System, together with Downhill Assist Control (DAC). This system is available on LC4 and LC5 with automatic transmission.

Both three and five-door versions will be available, in normal or wide-body styles (depending on grade). The five-door accommodates up to eight people in three rows of forward-facing seats. All seats are equipped with three-point seatbelts and adjustable headrests.

The 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine, available in the UK from next March, is the most powerful engine yet to be offered in a Land Cruiser. Constructed in lightweight alloy, it develops 245 horsepower.

Toyota says the new Land Cruiser will play an important role in its strategy for further development of its European market performance. In the UK Toyota expects 2,500 sales for the new model in 2003, contributing to a Europe-wide target of more than 30,000. This in turn will help progress towards Toyota's medium-term goal of 800,000 total European sales by 2005.