Solid Front Axle Land Cruiser 105
Sometimes referred to as the 105 series, GX, GXL or standard model.
When Toyota introduced the new Land Cruiser 100 in 1998, it debuted with IFS. This was not the first time IFS was
installed on a Land Cruiser. The series 90 also debuted with IFS in 1997, but the series 90 was more of a mini-Land
Cruiser and suited roughly the same market as the 4Runner and other mid-sized SUVs. The full sized Land Cruiser
80, which the new 100 series replaced, was just as much a serious off road vehicle as it was a full sized luxery SUV.
When Toyota added IFS to it's new flagship, it knew that it had to appease some hardcore and commercial customers
who would still opt for a solid front axle. Toyota also knew that it needed to develop a lower cost alternative to the
very expensive luxury SUV that would make up for most of it's sales. To address both issues, Toyota introduced a
lower cost base model Land Cruiser 100. Sometimes called the Land Cruiser 105, or GX, GXL or just plain standard
model. This version of the 100 series used a solid front axle and the 4.2 diesel engine or 4.5 petrol engine and was
available with a 5 speed manual transmission. The front axle is the same axle (including 5 lugs and manual hubs) found
in the 1999 and later Land Cruiser 78 series. The engine and transmission also from the 78 series. These lower cost
models are available all over the world, but not in the United States and Canada. In North America, only the higher
end IFS models are sold, with a petrol V-8 engine and automatic transmisson being standard with no other options.