Design first for Prado

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Toyota caught its competitors on the hop with the price of the new Prado.

The RV and VX diesel models were expected by its four-wheel-drive rivals to come into the market about $3000 more expensive than the base model manual RV at $66,500, the automatic at $68,500 and top-spec VX at $78,000.

Although optional power-operated leather seats at $3500 will push the VX beyond $80,000 and up into Mitsubishi Pajero territory, for example.

A couple of other options will take it even further. A "coolbox" between the front seats costs $1000 and variable ride height is $4500.

Toyota last week kicked off the new five-model Prado range with three 3-litre turbocharged and intercooled diesels.

Two petrol versions, powered by a 4-litre V6, will arrive here next February.

New Zealand is the first right-hand-drive country outside Japan to get the new Prado. It doesn't go on sale in Britain or Australia until next year.

It was penned at Toyota's European design centre in the south of France, the first Land Cruiser model in the 51-year history of the vehicle to be styled outside Japan.

The new model is longer and wider inside and out than its predecessor but not quite as tall. Toyota says it deliberately reduced overall height to improve the vehicle's centre of gravity.

The Prado's cabin is more inviting and user-friendly, there is more leg and shoulder room and there are more safety features.

The RV gets dual front airbags, the VX gets front, side and rear curtain. Both models have full-time four-wheel-drive with anti-lock brakes, along with electronic aids which aid braking in emergencies.

The VX gets the addition of what Toyota calls "hill-start assist control", an electronic system to help the Prado negotiate steep slopes. Jeep uses something similar.

There is also "downhill assist control" to slow the Prado's descent off-road. Land Rover has a similar system.

Toyota says the new Prado has a better ride/handling mix on-road and more manoeuvrability off-road, thanks in part to a chassis 60 per cent stiffer than that of the outgoing model.

The 3-litre diesel engine is carried over and produces 96kW at 3600rpm and 343Nm of torque at 2000rpm. The new 24-valve V6 produces 179kW at 5200rpm and 376Nm at 3800rpm.