Toyota unveiled a video showcasing three variations of the Land Cruiser 70 Series short-wheelbase (SWB) models, highlighting a unique feature for a specific group of buyers. One of the vehicles featured in the clip is a convertible model with a front windshield that unlatches and folds flat. Chief Engineer Masaya Uchiyama explained that this design allows ranchers to throw lassos from the vehicle while it is moving. The convertible also includes a roll-over protection structure and side bench seats, bringing the total seating capacity to six or seven passengers.
The SWB configuration is among the rarest options in the Land Cruiser 70 lineup, prized for its exceptional maneuverability. This short footprint makes the vehicle a popular choice for municipal police forces and agricultural workers on cattle ranches. The headline number for this model is its 2,310 mm (90.9 in) wheelbase. To provide some context, this length is 120 mm (4.7 in) shorter than Toyota’s smallest European production model, the Aygo X, and only 60 mm (2.4 in) longer than the wheelbase of the Suzuki Jimny. Despite the compact dimensions, the Land Cruiser SWB still stretches to 4,235 mm (166.7 inches) long.
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Like the rest of the 70 Series family, the SWB retains the heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis and rigid live axles at both ends, featuring front coil springs and rear leaf springs. Depending on the market, the short-wheelbase model can be equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter six-cylinder diesel engine producing 129 hp (96 kW / 131 PS), or a 4.0-liter V6 gasoline engine generating 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS). Power runs to all four wheels through a 4WD system, with the diesel paired to a five-speed manual and the V6 using a six-speed automatic.
Production figures show that approximately 90 percent of all short-wheelbase 70 Series units are exported to the Middle East. The remaining 10 percent heads to select regions in South America and Asia. While Uchiyama admitted there are no immediate plans to sell the SWB in Japan, he expressed a personal preference for the stubby layout and hopes for a domestic release in the future. In Dubai, the three-door hardtop SWB starts at 177,900 Dirham ($48,400), which is 10,000 Dirham ($2,700) less than the equivalent five-door version. Certain Middle Eastern markets only receive the five-door SUV alongside single- and dual-cab pickup versions of the 70 Series.