The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Few motoring fans – and even those of a less mechanical bent – will have missed the arrival of the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser. It had its global reveal in a presentation from the UAE in early June, and the first 50 people in the Emirates who got their advance orders in fastest received their cars in a blaze of fireworks and water fountains in Dubai on Sunday.
It was no surprise the UAE was the place that Toyota decided to make its big unveiling, as this is the country where more than half of all Land Cruisers manufactured are sold these days. Yes, really, it's that many.
And you can see why when you drive it.
There are plenty of more powerful SUVs on the roads, but the Land Cruiser always gives the impression of being, well, rock solid, if that doesn’t sound too cliched. Any vehicle you’d think about taking into a harsh environment, be the territory hot, cold, sodden or laced with peanut butter, would have to be dependable and capable, and the LC300, like its most recent predecessors, doesn’t write any cheques it can’t cash in those departments.
Al Futtaim Toyota organised its inaugural Land Cruiser test drive around some of the Emirates’ most uneven terrain, in Ras Al Khaimah. The tour, with some 15 vehicles travelling in convoy, took in rough roads and rocky inclines, culminating in a swinging tear up Jebel Jais, the country’s highest peak.
The car handled every dip, slip and hanging edge with suitable grace, and it performed as efficiently as any in its class on the hard stuff, too. You get a definite impression of being secure, despite the fact the 2022 model is 200 kilograms lighter than the previous version.
This increased sense of calm is no doubt aided by the newbie’s lowered centre of gravity and suspension upgrade, both of which are a definite help when it comes to minimising the swaying effects that come with cornering.
Jebel Jais was a good test of that. Anyone who has ever driven up that particular peak will know there is plenty of steering to do as you zip up and down.
In fact, Toyota says the LC300 has best-in-class off-road abilities, and you’d be hard pushed to proffer too many arguments on that score.
It’s difficult for manufacturers to achieve any really revolutionary styling in new cars these days. Over the years, different types of vehicles evolved into convenient and logical shapes that suit the purpose they’re designed for. SUVs are no exception.
Toyota has managed to give the new Land Cruiser a shape that is distinctive from its most recent predecessors, though. From the side, the look is more assertive, resembling in some way a particularly rugged, steel toe-capped boot, but in rather more fancy colours (nine, in total) than you might see on the feet of construction workers and others in need of the toughest shoes they can get.
Not, we should hasten to add, that the Land Cruiser has ever adopted a cutesy look in its 70-year history.
The car is functional and comfortable inside, with the posher models having heads-up displays, 360-degree cameras, wireless chargers, 12.3-inch screens and so on. All LC300s have the manufacturer’s Safety Sense package, with the usual driver aids and enough warning beeps to scare you into staying on the straight and narrow.
The car comes in three different variants – EXR, GXR and VXR – with the basic model better equipped than you might expect. You should go for a higher spec model if you’re used to driving around in more recent SUVs, the ones with enough add-ons and gadgets to make your average Rolls-Royce owner look twice.
The two V6 engines are an improvement on what came before, and while you won’t be taking vehicles of this nature drag racing any time soon, the nippiest of the breed will get to 100 kilometres per hour in a very respectable 6.7 seconds.
The only real issue with driving around in a Land Cruiser is one of exclusivity. There are a lot of them on the roads, and that situation shows no sign of abating any time soon. Bear in mind, though, there’s a reason why they’re so popular. They work as you'd want them to and are fit for purpose. And even in these days of automotive innovation, you’d be surprised how many cars still don’t tick either of those boxes.
See Dubai Police take delivery of the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300:
More on Quran memorisation:
MWTC
Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE Rugby finals day
Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai
2pm, UAE Conference final
Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers
4pm, UAE Premiership final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Honeymoonish
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
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Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
