Land Cruiser is world fastest SUV at 370km/h

Modified Toyota Land Cruiser

A modified Toyota Land Cruiser has emerged as the world’s fastest sport utility vehicle with a blistering run hitting a 230.02-mile or 370km per hour mark.

Several online reports, including Daily Mail, Irish Times and Performance Drive, said on Monday that the record was attained with a custom-made 2000hp version of the vehicle called the Land Speed Cruiser.

A former Toyota Nascar driver, Carl Edwards, reportedly beat the previous land speed SUV record by more than 30km/h, reaching a GPS-verified and video-documented 230.02 mph (370.18km/h) before running out of usable pavement at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California in the United States.

The SUV was fitted with wider tyres and the suspension lowered to reduce drag, it was reported.

The Sales National Engagement Marketing Manager, Toyota Motors, Steve Appelbaum, said, “At Toyota, we like to say ‘Let’s go places,’ and the Land Speed Cruiser goes places faster than any SUV before it. This was an aspiration goal that inspired us all. We achieved success by employing the kind of innovative solutions and unyielding determination that have long represented the core of Toyota’s soul.”

The modifications, made by the Toyota Motorsports Centre included beefed-up pistons and con-rods, a custom-intake manifold, the transmission and gearbox from a racing car, and suspension, already lower than standard, that’s 15mm narrower so that ultra-wide Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres could be fitted.

“The World’s Fastest SUV record was at 340km/h. That’s extremely fast. Toyota thought, ‘Why don’t we make a really, ultra-powerful Land Cruiser, and let’s just see how fast we can make it can go,’” said MTC Manager, Chuck Wade.

While Toyota may have claimed the overall title, Bentley still holds the record for the fastest unmodified production SUV, having reached 187mph on a test track prior to its release in September 2015, one of the reports said.