There are many legends about the exploits of the Celtic King Arthur. One of them tells of the invincible sword Excalibur, which could break any blade. Inspired by Celtic legends, Toyota has introduced a special edition version of the equally legendary Land Cruiser 200 SUV, called Excalibur.
The full-size Toyota Land Cruiser 200 SUV is extremely popular in Russia. To fuel interest, the Japanese company periodically introduces special editions designed to emphasize the exclusivity of its owner. For example, the Excalibur special edition replaces the Executive Black and White trim levels and offers owners a customized exterior and luxurious interior trim, emphasizing their exclusive status. The Excalibur is 1.5 million rubles more expensive than the base Toyota Land Cruiser 200.
Exterior
The Toyota Land Cruiser Excalibur looks definitely better than its predecessor, the Executive. The car’s bumpers have been slightly modified. The massive lip with chrome elements is gone, and now a neat spoiler appears on the bumper. The exterior elements are finished in dark chrome. This can be seen in the tinted radiator grille, dark bezels for the LED headlights, and black housings for the rearview mirrors. The dark chrome finish is also applied to the wheel rims; the Excalibur version has 20-inch rims.
In addition, the Excalibur’s exclusivity is emphasized by the light projection of the special edition emblem in the entry area when the SUV door is open. The changes are essentially minor, but they freshen up the Land Cruiser’s exterior, making it stand out from the crowd, especially compared to regular 200-series vehicles. Some technical options have also been added.
For example, the Land Cruiser 200 Excalibur is equipped with air suspension, a full winter package, and the Toyota Safety Sense proprietary safety systems. To make sure everyone quickly realizes this isn’t just a regular Land Cruiser 200, but a “royal” one, the Excalibur badges, styled after King Arthur’s sword, have appeared on the rear pillars.
Interior
The interior design is identical to that of the base Toyota Land Cruiser 200, with the only difference being that the Excalibur features higher-quality, more expensive trim materials. This includes stylish diamond-pattern leather stitching on the seats and doors. The headliner, as befits a premium, upscale model, is finished in black fabric. That is, the car looks richer both outside and inside than the base “Kruzak”, but still sits a step below the platform-sharing Lexus LX.
Otherwise, it is the same solid, roomy and capacious Land Cruiser 200. Another point that future buyers should pay attention to. The Excalibur version, although considered special, is only available in a five-seater version. Anyone who needs a seven-seater car should choose the Land Cruiser 200 in the “Lux Safety” configuration, but it will not have such spectacular stylistic elements as the Excalibur.
A matter of technology
In fact, in technical terms, the Excalibur version is not much different from the regular 200 series. It’s designed for those who just barely missed the Lexus LX budget but still want to show off their coolness. The test vehicle is equipped with a 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 diesel engine producing 249 horsepower with a COMMON RAIL direct injection system and an intercooler. There’s also a 4.6-liter gasoline V8 engine producing 309 horsepower. This engine is installed in the entry-level Excalibur. Both engines are mated to a proven six-speed automatic transmission. The top-of-the-line Land Cruiser 200 features hydropneumatic suspension with height adjustment and adaptive damping control. The more expensive Lexus LX has a similar suspension. However, the Land Cruiser 200 is a full-fledged SUV with full locking and driver assistance systems for descents and ascents. It features a robust frame, permanent all-wheel drive, and a Torsen center differential in the transfer case. Traction is split 40:60 between the front and rear axles. The differential can be locked, or you can use the demultiplier with a gear ratio of 2.618.
But in my opinion, the Land Cruiser 200 is still more comfortable to drive on the highway over long distances than on rough terrain. On the highway, the car rides leisurely, and the suspension soaks up any imperfections in Russian asphalt. At the same time, in traffic, the Excalibur commands respect from other road users. This is especially noticeable when you’re backing up a slower car trudging along in the left lane. People immediately give way to the king, and from the driver’s seat, you watch the others around you like Arthur, the Celtic leader, from his throne. Incidentally, the suspension has two modes for fast highway driving: Sport and Sport+. When you put the car in one of these modes, the air suspension lowers the car a few centimeters, and the engine sound becomes bassier. I’d also like to mention the soundproofing of the cabin; at speeds of about 120 km/h, no extraneous noise is heard.
Save on Lexus
As for the price, at the moment the Excalibur is the most expensive Land Cruiser 200 in the model line. It costs 200 thousand more than the Executive version. The price of the gasoline Excalibur starts at 5,493,000 rubles, the diesel – 5,616,000 rubles. For comparison, the most basic Land Cruiser 200 will cost almost one and a half million less. The five-seat 200 in the Comfort trim costs 3,799,000 rubles. Compared to the entry-level Lexus LX, the exclusive Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Excalibur is 600,000 rubles cheaper. Agree, this is a decent saving.
Source: ufocar
