New tech-laden Land Cruiser 200 debuts Toyota's latest safety and driver assistance features

Launched today in Japan, the partially redesigned Land Cruiser 200 is the first model to bring Toyota's flagship active safety package, Toyota Safety Sense P, to the market.

The model also debuts several cutting-edge driver assistance features, as well as a number of aesthetic updates aiming to reinforce its powerful and advanced image. Toyota is aiming for monthly sales in Japan of 250 units.

The Toyota Safety Sense P active safety package is a higher-spec version of the Toyota Safety Sense C package, which debuted earlier this year on the Corolla in Japan. Toyota Safety Sense P includes the following functions:

Pre-collision System with pedestrian detection: This system uses millimetre-wave radar and a single-lens camera to detect pedestrians in addition to vehicles. To help prevent or mitigate collisions, the system activates an audio and visual alert in addition to brake assist, followed by automated braking if the driver does not brake in time. Automated braking operates at relative speeds of between approximately 10 to 80kph for reducing potential damage or collisions with pedestrians and can reduce speed by approximately 30kph. For potential collisions with or damage from other vehicles, the enhanced PCS system included with the Toyota Safety Sense P package operates at relative speeds of between approximately 10kph and the vehicle's top speed, reducing speed by approximately 40kph.

Radar Cruise Control (with brake control): On highways, Radar Cruise Control uses millimetre-wave radar to detect preceding vehicles and determine their speed. It then adjusts vehicle speed (within a set range) to ensure that there is a safe distance between vehicles. By using a forward-facing camera and millimeter-wave radar to monitor vehicles merging into or out of the lane, Radar Cruise Control helps maintain smooth acceleration and deceleration while driving.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA): LDA uses a camera to detect white and yellow lane markings. If the vehicle starts to deviate from the lane, LDA alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert.

Automatic High Beam (AHB): AHB helps ensure excellent forward visibility during nighttime driving. It uses a camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the tail-lights of vehicles ahead, and then automatically switches between high beams and low beams so as not to dazzle other drivers.

Among additional safety and driver assistance features, a panoramic multi-terrain monitor helps assess safety conditions all around the vehicle. Furthermore, it is now possible to check the positioning of tires and safety conditions under the vehicle, thanks to the world's first use of an under-floor view. The shape of the road surface ahead of the vehicle and the inclination of the vehicle can be checked intuitively via a front view rotating display―another world-first feature1.

All models feature a Blind Spot Monitor, which uses radar to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes and helps with rear view assessment when changing lanes. Additionally, a Rear Cross Traffic Alert system warns the driver when the Blind Spot Monitor detects a nearby vehicle when backing out of parking lots. Finally, hazard lights automatically flash during sudden braking as a signal to warn vehicles in the rear.

The Tyre Pressure Warning System on the Multi-Information Display monitors the air pressure of each tyre individually, assisting with safe driving and contributing to increased fuel efficiency.