[Heatwave3]

How can it not? If Toyota cut cost on the 200 series they would have outsource 5.7 production to the Alabama plant in USA. They didnt. Also R and D into a 10.4litre per 100k diesel engine is pretty impressive given that it produces 270hp and 580 ft-lb of torque and is used in 5600lb SUV.

Page, what's with you and the salivating over the diesel? Its not in the US market and its not likely to come here anytime soon in the LC. Its an irrelevant point and has no impact on the timeline for the demise of the LC platorm in the US.

Technically superior is right if you are driving a BMW or a Porche.... But don't forget that your platinum Sequioa can haul less, travel not as far off road, and has a slower top speed that the Landcruiser. Oh yeah...load floor is also higher and it also hauls less cubic feet than 1st gen Sequioa which was a solid axle. There are tradeoffs to IRS...Car and driver said handling was not much improved because of IRS.

Interesting how you conveniently ignored the fact that every new design of a large SUV has been re-engineered to have an IRS. The new MB GL, the new Sequoia, the new Navigator, the new Expedition, the new QX56, the new Armada. As compared to the company the LC and LX are keeping which essentially are the outdated designs of the Suburban, Yukon and Escalade. Even the performance "luxury" SUVs have an IRS such as the Cayenne and Range Rover. That leaves the LC as Don Quixote trying to sell their outdated solid rear axle suspension as superior. Not gonna fly with Americans and Toyota knew that when they developed the Sequoia with a new IRS for greater handling and passenger comfort.

And I am confident that the GM designs are being hurried through engineering to develop a new IRS that can haul people more comfortable than the current solid axle and yet still tow large capacities. Once GM transitions to an IRS, that will leave the LC/LX as the only large suv claiming they have a superior design with a solid rear axle...and that's not gonna fly with American luxury suv buyers. That'll be the same time the LC is shipped overseas as a ROW platform in the same way Toyota designated the HiAce minivan to ROW markets and replaced it with the Previa/Sienna.

Who cares. if hauling people were your priority you should get a Sienna which has the same rear end.

Americans care. They want their SUV to be capable of hauling the family comfortably and conveniently as well as tow a heavy "toy". In both of these cases the Sequoia is the superior platform with a more flexible interior and far more legroom in all three rows than is available in the LC platform. If payload is a primary need, you should be looking at a pickup with a solid rear axle and leaf springs. Definitely a far superior design for carrying heavy payloads.

I'm perplexed why you're emphasizing payload at the expense of passenger comfort. I think that argument only makes the Sequoia a far more attractive alternative than the LC for Americans because it means you're getting greater comfort for passengers, more flexibility in the interior design and better handling with the Sequoia's IRS vs the outdated technology of the rear solid axle of the LC that emphasizes payload over comfort and handling.

Geez...let me see...which design is likely to be more attractive to US consumers?...the one that handles better, carries passengers more comfortably and can tow a heavier toy OR the one than can carry more bags of concrete stacked on the laps of the passengers. Uhhh...easy call for most buyers.....other than those stuck in the past with images of African safaris influencing their purchasing decision...all six of those folks will end up buying a LC.

And you are an authority of this? How?

Because I say so...take it or leave it.

Honestly heatwave..Is the Sequioa Platinum REALLY a luxury SUV?

Without a doubt, it can be outfitted as a luxury SUV and I have the facts to prove it....just scan the pics below and any right-minded person will come to the same conclusion that the new 08 Platinum Sequoia is without question a luxury vehicle. Having owned alot of luxury vehicles, I think I'm a reasonable judge. However I'll let the readers judge for themselves by looking at the pics below.