Toyota’s most rugged Land Cruiser is back in Japan

Toyota Land Cruiser chief engineer Sadayoshi Koyari speaks in front of the Land Cruiser 70 van, right, and its pickup model, left, during the Land Cruiser Motor Show at a Toyota showroom in Tokyo Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Toyota Motor Corp. is bringing back the Land Cruiser 70 in Japan, catering to nostalgic demand for the rugged off-road vehicle. The Land Cruiser 70, the toughest of the Land Cruiser models, arrives at Japanese dealers Monday. But it's on sale for only a year. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) Toyota Land Cruiser chief engineer Sadayoshi Koyari speaks in front of the Land Cruiser 70 van, right, and its pickup model, left, during the Land Cruiser Motor Show at a Toyota showroom in Tokyo Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Toyota Motor Corp. is bringing back the Land Cruiser 70 in Japan, catering to nostalgic demand for the rugged off-road vehicle. The Land Cruiser 70, the toughest of the Land Cruiser models, arrives at Japanese dealers Monday. But it's on sale for only a year. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

By Associated Press August 25, 2014 2 min read

TOKYO (AP) – Toyota Motor Corp. is bringing back the Land Cruiser 70 in Japan, catering to nostalgic demand for the rugged off-roader that’s favored for challenging terrains and as an aid agency vehicle in disaster zones.

The 3.6 million yen ($35,000) Land Cruiser 70, the toughest of the Land Cruiser models, arrives at Japanese dealers Monday. But it’s on sale for only a year, with planned production of 200 a month.

Japan sales were discontinued in 2004, but fans have long wanted the model back because of its fun-to-drive features.

“If you ever have to entrust your life with a car, I’d choose the Land Cruiser,” chief engineer Sadayoshi Koyari told reporters at an event for car fans in Tokyo.

The 70 model first went on sale in 1984, and it’s still sold in the Middle East, Africa, Australia and other places, averaging 6,400 vehicles a month in sales.