A fresh report out of the United States claims Toyota will kill off its V8 petrol engine over the next three years, gradually replacing it with a new twin-turbo V6 expected to be used in the upcoming Land Cruiser 300.

According to The Drive, Toyota will “wind down” production of its naturally aspirated eight-pot at both of the engine's production sites (Alabama in the US and Tahara in Japan).

Citing “a source familiar with the automaker's US manufacturing operations”, the publication says the new turbocharged 3,5-litre V6 – which is reportedly different to the unit employed by the LS500 – will find its way into vehicles such as the next-generation Tundra, Sequoia and Land Cruiser.

According to The Drive, while the Toyota brand looks set to remove the engine from its line-up, the V8 might live on – albeit in turbocharged form – in the rumoured Lexus LC F and LQ flagship SUV (as well as the next LX).

In March 2020, a report claimed the new Land Cruiser 300 would be offered with the choice of two 3,5-litre V6 petrol engines (rather than the current 4,6-litre V8 petrol engine), one of which will be electrified. The hybrid version, of course, is expected to offer a more impressive spread of torque, with a firm focus on pulling power.

The 4,5-litre V8 turbodiesel employed by the SA-spec Land Cruiser 200 is also likely to be axed and reportedly replaced with a “high-torque” six-cylinder oil-burner that could even find its way into a full-fat GR Hilux.

Original article from Car