New Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup May Break 70 Years of Tradition with a Unibody Chassis

A recent report suggests that Toyota plans to expand the Land Cruiser family with a new SUV and a pickup that, for the first time since 1951, would abandon the traditional body-on-frame construction in favor of a unibody structure

Since 1951, all Land Cruiser models have been built on a rugged ladder-frame (body-on-frame) foundation, ensuring their durability and off-road prowess.

However, unnamed inside sources cited by Japan’s Best Car indicate that a new Land Cruiser SUV and pickup duo is in the works. These models are set to break from that long-held tradition. Both are said to adopt a unibody structure, favoring on-road comfort and daily drivability. This approach would set them apart from traditional models like the Land Cruiser 70 Series, Hilux, Tacoma, and Tundra.

Inspiration from Electric Concepts and TNGA Platform

This shift toward unibody immediately calls to mind two concepts shown at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023: the Toyota EPU pickup truck and the three-row Land Cruiser Se SUV.

• EPU Pickup: The forthcoming pickup will share styling cues with the EPU, a concept that measured 199.6 inches (5,070 mm) in length and featured an extendable rear bed.
• Land Cruiser Se SUV: Earlier coverage suggests the production version of the Se SUV may arrive a year sooner, in 2026, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the nameplate.

Although the 2023 concepts were fully electric, production versions could evolve from Toyota’s e-TNGA platform or shift to a different unibody layout that supports hybrid powertrains. This would align with Toyota’s broader “multi-pathway” philosophy. The report indicates that the new pickup could debut as early as 2027.

Potential Sale in North America

A crucial aspect is that the aforementioned unibody pickup and SUV could be sold in North America. Toyota officials have admitted they are considering an affordable pickup for the US market, a role that could be fulfilled by these new Land Cruiser models.

An electrified Land Cruiser pickup could go head-to-head with rivals like Ford’s forthcoming Ranger-sized EV or the eventual successor to the compact Ford Maverick.