Toyota could be looking to bring more EVs to America, according to rumors from Japanese outlet Best Car, using the Land Cruiser name, as well as some EV concepts revealed a few years ago. According to the rumor, signs point to a U.S. release, with a three-row SUV and a pickup, both riding on the same monocoque, or unibody, platform, aiming to cater more to city-oriented character rather than rough-road capability. Both models are rumored to be branded as Land Cruiser.
The Theorized SUV Is Based On The Electric Land Cruiser Se Concept
Best Car reports that the theoretical SUV will be based on the Land Cruiser Se concept, an electric Land Cruiser unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. The Land Cruiser Se concept capitalizes on modern EV design, with crisp, thin lines and minimalist aspects, which include the headlights, badging, and side mirrors, to name a few.
Best Car also puts forth the powertrain prediction for this three-row seven-seater as well as the rumored pickup, which leans heavily into EV territory, though a multi-path approach is no doubt on the table, as per Toyota’s current line-up’s pathway, which includes EVs, hybrids, hydrogen power, and pure combustion. The rumor also mentions the theorized SUV getting an updated version of Toyota’s Direct4 AWD system, which would allow the vehicle to behave like either a FWD, RWD, or AWD vehicle depending on road conditions, giving it enhanced control in varying environments.
Toyota’s EPU Concept Serves As The Rumored Pickup’s Inspiration
The rumored pickup, which is said to be about the same size as the popular Ford Maverick, will likely draw heavily from the EPU concept. Best Car states that the pickup would, like the theoretical Land Cruiser EV, be more suited for on-road use rather than off-road antics. We also have to remember that the EPU concept, when revealed, was rumored to be a direct rival to the Maverick by many auto experts, and in that vein, could see a more rugged variant (TRD?) — similar to the Maverick Tremor — if brought to life.
The Compelling Evidence That Supports This Rumor
Both the Land Cruiser Se and the EPU pickup concepts were revealed at JMS 2023, though their likeness has been spotted elsewhere, lending a tad more credence to the rumor’s viability. During the European reveal for the bZ refresh, Toyota teased three new EVs set to debut in 2026. Although we only got a glimpse of the silhouettes, our friends at CarBuzz pointed out their resemblance to the Land Cruiser SE and the EPU pickup concepts.
Other supporting evidence comes in the form of a report from Reuters back in September that revealed Toyota’s plans to produce two new three-row BEV SUVs at its Kentucky plant — one of which is based on the Land Cruiser (the other based on the RAV4, according to Reuters’ source, though CarBuzz posits an electric Highlander). If both the rumored EVs ride on the same platform, it wouldn’t be a far stretch to assume they could be produced at the same factory, which would help keep taxes down.
Finally, the last piece of evidence that has experts predicting a U.S. release is the fact that the EPU concept was a left-hand-drive vehicle with an MPH speed readout on the gauge cluster instead of KM/H — both of which point to a U.S.-spec vehicle. At this time, none of Best Car‘s theories have been confirmed, though we’ll definitely be following Toyota news in light of this rumor, especially considering 2026 is right around the corner.
Sources: Best Car, Reuters, CarBuzz
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