Toyota has electrified the chonky new Land Cruiser

Toyota has hybridised the chonky new Land Cruiser, and straight off the bat has reassured us that "the system in no way compromises the Land Cruiser’s ability to operate in extreme conditions and rough terrain". Phew. Welcome to the first electrified LC.

Mildly electrified, for this be a 48V stop-start system, rather than an able-to-run-on-e-power-alone setup. It's the same version that sits in the Hilux, which means an electric motor-generator, a 48V li-on battery and a DC-DC convertor. That's all bundled up and mated to a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic ‘box.

The hybrid bit adds 16bhp/48lb ft to the LC, and charges itself via engine braking. Naturally, Toyota said overall efficiency has been improved.

And because the motor-generator has been positioned high up on the engine block, Toyota said the LC "can still wade at low speed through water up to 700mm deep". It’s also more compact than Toyota’s full-hybrid system.

Other changes include a small update to the digital display, where a new read-out will inform drivers of the engine’s regen status.

Toyota said the new 48V system will be bolted onto every UK car including the Land Cruiser Commercial (not an advert, but a tradey's LC), though hasn't said how much it'll cost. In any case, it'll arrive later this year.