Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed it plans to offer the Land Cruiser Prado with the 2,8-litre turbodiesel that debuted in the Hilux, but only at the end of 2020.

The local arm of the Japanese firm confirmed to CARmag.co.za at the SA launch of the Lexus RC F that it plans rejig the Prado’s engine line-up at the end of next year.

We expect the four-cylinder oil-burner – which, of course, also does duty locally in the Fortuner range – to replace the 3,0-litre unit that currently powers three of the five variants in the Prado line-up.

While local engine specifications have yet to be revealed, it's worth noting that in Australia the 2,8 D-4D powerplant available in the Prado offers 130 kW at 3 400 r/min, some ten units up on the outgoing 3,0-litre engine. Linked to a six-speed automatic transmission, the 2,8-litre mill generates 450 N.m between 1 600 and 2 400 r/min (up 50 N.m on the old engine's peak).

That’s enough for a 3 000 kg braked towing capacity and claimed combined fuel consumption of 8,0 L/100 km. Toyota Australia furthermore offers the engine in conjunction with a six-speed manual gearbox (and a slightly lower torque figure of 420 N.m), but that combination seems unlikely to form part of the rejigged South African range.

The current seven-seater Prado range in South Africa – which was last updated locally in November 2017 – also includes the Japanese firm’s 4,0-litre V6 petrol engine, which powers two variants.

Original article from Car