Summary

• Toyota’s Land Speed Cruiser, a modified model of the Land Cruiser, reached a record-breaking pace of 230.2 mph.
• The creation of this high-speed SUV required in depth modifications, together with to the automobile’s aerodynamics, suspension, engine, and tires.
• The Toyota Motorsport Technical Center, identified for NASCAR automobiles, remodeled the Land Cruiser into a brilliant high-speed automobile.

To assert that the Toyota Land Cruiser is among the most profitable automobiles from the Japanese producer is stating the apparent. Over 10 million units have been built since 1951, a report in itself. However, the Japanese SUV may also boast of different accolades.

Toyota has carved out a spot within the guide of data because of its 2,000 horsepower Land Speed Cruiser. Unveiled on the 2016 SEMA Show, the Toyota Land Speed Cruiser bears little resemblance to the Land Cruiser you may discover at your native Toyota dealership. This marked a pivotal second, capturing the eye of lovers and bystanders alike, and shocking them by breaking the report for max pace for an SUV, one thing unthinkable for the Japanese mannequin till 2016.

This SUV, which began its life as a humble Toyota Land Cruiser, managed to attain a pace of 230.2 mph, roughly 87 mph sooner than the official most pace of the quickest manufacturing Land Cruiser.

This introduced a major problem for the Toyota Motorsport Technical Center (MTC), positioned in Los Angeles, which got down to obtain this feat. They needed to work meticulously on the automobile’s aerodynamics and make the mandatory modifications to show it into one thing able to reaching the aim.

Until that second, this division had been primarily answerable for the event of the race automobiles that Toyota competed with in NASCAR. However, when introduced with the chance to undertake the Land Speed Cruiser mission, they did not hesitate to simply accept the problem.

In order to provide the latest and correct info attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Toyota.

It All Starts With The Heavily Modified 5.7-Liter 3UR-FE V-8 Engine

For the engineers on the Toyota Motorsport Technical Center, this endeavor was not nearly breaking a report; it was a check of their ability and dedication to pushing the boundaries of automotive efficiency.

Every side of the inventory Land Cruiser, a benchmark for off-roading SUVs, needed to be rigorously thought-about and optimized to make sure it might face up to the acute speeds required to set a brand new benchmark. From redesigning the bodywork to fine-tuning the engine and suspension, each element was scrutinized and refined to maximise efficiency and stability.

Nearly All Components Beneath The Bodywork Were Modified

As you might need guessed, just about all the pieces beneath the bodywork underwent modification. The unique inside disappeared solely, together with all seven seats. The driver’s seat was changed with a contest bucket seat, full with FIA-spec security harnesses. Naturally, an authorized all-encompassing roll cage was added for security, however probably the most vital modification occurred beneath the hood with the engine.

A Standard 5.7-Liter Gasoline V-8 Underwent Significant Modifications

Those modifications imply nothing with out an engine able to reaching supercar speeds. The basis was a commonplace 5.7-liter gasoline V-8, which produces 376 horsepower and 400 pound ft. In truth, this was probably the most highly effective engine that Toyota supplied at the moment, related to the Land Cruiser within the North American market.

Nevertheless, the engineers remodeled it to competition-worthy ranges: new pistons, solid connecting rods, and different inner parts, together with two monumental turbos Garrett GTX4718R the dimensions of a soccer ball, every blowing at an astonishing 3.8 bars of strain!

Typically shielded by filter parts throughout high-speed operations, the generators of every unit at the moment are visibly uncovered, resembling the unbridled drive of jet engines on an plane, eagerly primed to attract within the surrounding environment.

To put it into perspective, the turbo within the 2.0-liter Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 — one of the vital highly effective inventory turbos — blows at 1.8 bars (which by the way is also the boost pressure of the Bugatti Chiron’s turbos). Due to the quantity of pipework working to and from these turbos, it was essential to relocate the battery from the engine bay to the right-hand nook of the baggage space.

Necessary Measures Were Taken To Avoid Fuel Cavitation During Acceleration

To mitigate the danger of gas cavitation throughout acceleration, a remote reservoir was integrated into the fuel system. Initially, the liquid is drawn by two pumps positioned throughout the unique tank, which then switch it to an impartial alloy catch tank positioned within the trunk, adjoining to the battery. The upright design of the tank ensures that voids are prevented from forming within the liquid across the pump consumption, thereby making certain a gentle provide of gas to the injectors.

This system operates beneath the supervision of a MoTeC digital management unit, which additionally makes use of a show unit to offer important extra info on the engine’s situation. Following combustion, the exhaust gases endure additional processing facilitated by a high-lift camshaft and ported cylinder heads.

These modified parts information the gases alongside a dynamic pathway by means of a customized Borla exhaust system, exiting from the aspect of the automobile, simply forward of the rear wheels. This redirection of the exhaust gases allowed to flatten the underfloor space and fabricate a rear diffuser.

Additional Tweaks Everywhere

Every side of the unique mannequin underwent meticulous changes or outright replacements. From the chassis to the engine parts, no half remained untouched.

• The TurboSmart specialist was answerable for the blow-off valve, whereas the intercoolers had been custom-made by Toyota Motorsport’s personal division.
• The engine displacement was decreased to five,663 CC.
• The transmission chosen to deal with this energy surge was an eight-speed Weismann computerized gearbox, that includes a moist, centrifugal, and multi-disc clutch.
• Three gas pumps had been answerable for gas supply.
• The exhaust system was divided into two huge pipes, positioned on both aspect of the physique.

A Power Output of Nearly 2,000 Horsepower Was Attained

The fruits of those meticulous modifications and engineering enhancements results in an awe-inspiring output: a staggering 1,972 horsepower! This immense energy output propels the Toyota Land Speed Cruiser into the realm of hypercars, turning into a drive to be reckoned with, able to reaching speeds beforehand reserved for under probably the most elite and unique automobiles on the planet.

The Aerodynamic Modifications Done To Exceed 200 MPH

Enhancing energy is just a part of the equation. Without reaching stability, the driving force’s means to completely make the most of that energy is compromised, the automobile’s efficiency potential is proscribed and, due to this fact, its longevity on the observe is jeopardized.

Ensuring stability is paramount. This requires a holistic strategy that addresses numerous elements, together with suspension tuning, aerodynamics, tire grip, and chassis rigidity. Each of those parts should work in concord to offer the driving force with confidence-inspiring stability, particularly when pushing the automobile to its limits.

Gaining Stability Meant Comprehensively Redesigning The Suspension System

In the case of the Land Speed Cruiser, reaching stability concerned a complete redesign of its suspension system, which has been meticulously fine-tuned, courtesy of Fox Shox shock absorbers and Eibach springs.

This rigorously calibrated setup not solely enhances the automobile’s stability and dealing with at excessive speeds but additionally contributes to its aggressive stance and aerodynamic effectivity by minimizing drag and downforce. Complementing this dynamic suspension setup are the putting 20″ Momo wheels, which not solely add a contact of fashion but additionally present a strong basis for the automobile’s efficiency capabilities.

Opting For The Appropriate Tires Was Critical

Furthermore, choosing the suitable tires is paramount for optimizing traction and grip, thereby enhancing stability throughout each acceleration and braking maneuvers. In pursuit of this aim, the Toyota Land Speed Cruiser Concept was outfitted with top-of-the-line Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, famend for his or her distinctive grip and efficiency traits.

The Goal Was To Revert What Traditionally Was: An Off-Road Vehicle

The vehicle made its debut was at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, in November 2016. It rapidly grew to become one of many standout sights of the occasion, and its look hinted that this Land Cruiser was no atypical modification. The absence of conventional aspect mirrors, changed by cameras, the huge 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with 315/35 ZR20 tires, and the shiny black paint of the physique hinted that this was no atypical automobile.

Land Speed Cruiser specs

(Data sourced from Toyota)

Its Aerodynamics Have Been Significantly Enhanced Thanks To Key Modifications

In addition to the lowered suspension and low-profile tires, the Land Speed Cruiser Concept undergoes additional alterations to differentiate itself as a high-performance automobile. While the Land Cruiser’s total form poses challenges for aerodynamics, two key modifications have notably improved its aerodynamics.

The first one, decreasing the journey peak by means of customized shocks and comes has decreased high-speed elevate, as beforehand defined. In addition to this, we’ve got the alternate of the elephant-ear door mirrors for glossy rear-facing video cameras, which reduces the automobile’s frontal space. This is a design selection more and more widespread in idea automobiles that additional streamlines the automobile’s profile for improved aerodynamic effectivity.

Combined with different performance-oriented modifications, akin to light-weight supplies and racing-inspired instrumentation, the Land Speed Cruiser Concept represents a daring departure from the normal SUV method.

This Process Proved To Be A Challenge For The Team: Just What They Wanted

Transforming Toyota’s venerable, heavy-duty SUV right into a record-chasing missile was no straightforward process, a truth that’s disguised by its understated exterior look.

“ This is what makes it so special ,” revealed centre supervisor Chuck Wade, who constructed the Land Speed Cruiser along with his workforce of engineers. “Every single system and component has been touched. The trick was getting the body back on to the heavily modified frame.”

230 MPH Proved Sufficient To Set A New World Speed Record For Off-Road Vehicles and SUV

Transforming a big, heavy, and unwieldy automobile right into a beast able to outpacing many supercars in a straight line is a problem that few would dare to undertake. However, for Chuck Wade’s workforce, the creators of this monstrous machine, it was an exhilarating endeavor.

NASCAR Driver Carl Edwards Took On The Role Of Piloting The Car

After race driver Craig Stanton fine-tuned the Toyota Land Speed Cruiser on the Arizona Proving Ground (TAPG), owned by Toyota, former NASCAR driver Carl Edwards was tasked with piloting the Toyota Land Speed Cruiser on the two.5-mile-long observe on the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Edwards made the preliminary report try on May 2, 2017. He reached a most pace of 211 mph, though he needed to elevate off the throttle prematurely as a consequence of miscalculating the required braking distance. As a end result, a second try was carried out.

According to him, “at 225 mph, the car was moving from side to side, but I just kept thinking about what Craig Stanton told me: ‘whatever happens, keep the pedal to the metal,’ and we’ll reach 230 mph.”

As the saying goes, “said and done”, the aim was finally achieved. Thanks to the carried out modifications, the Land Speed Cruiser reached 230 mph. This smashed the earlier SUV report by greater than 19 mph!

The Mojave Desert of California Hosted The Record-Setting

The pace report wasn’t set on one in every of North America’s huge salt flats, however quite on a compact 2.5-mile asphalt observe nestled within the Mojave Desert of California, U.S.A.; one of many longest within the U.S. This selection of venue may appear unconventional in comparison with the expansive salt flats sometimes related to high-speed runs, but it proved to be the right setting for Toyota’s Land Speed Cruiser to unleash its full potential.

A Testament To Toyota’s Engineering Team And The Land Speed Cruiser

This feat was a testomony not solely to the facility of the Land Speed Cruiser but additionally to the ingenuity and experience of Toyota’s engineering workforce. It showcased their means to take a humble SUV and remodel it right into a record-breaking powerhouse, additional solidifying Toyota’s popularity as a pioneer in automotive expertise and efficiency.

By pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering and efficiency, Toyota has as soon as once more demonstrated its dedication to excellence and its means to set new requirements within the trade. The Land Speed Cruiser’s record-breaking achievement just isn’t solely a supply of pleasure for Toyota but additionally a testomony to the limitless prospects that lie forward on this planet of automotive innovation.