Months of speculation predicted that the current-generation 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser would soon be discontinued. At the end of last year, the news became official that 2021 would indeed be the final model year for the Land Cruiser in the United States before the model was killed off. Toyota managed to sell 3,471 Land Cruisers in 2020, which was an 11.6% decrease compared to 2019. While this number won't have the Jeep Wrangler worried, Toyota knows there is still a future for off-road competent SUVs in its lineup.

The Land Cruiser could spawn a successor in the US, but it may not wear a Toyota badge. Speaking with Automotive News, Lexus Head Andrew Gilleland hinted that there is room for a new Land Cruiser-inspired SUV in Lexus' lineup.

Of course, there is already a luxury variant of the Land Cruiser called the 2021 Lexus LX. In fact, the gussied up Land Cruiser outsold its Toyota counterpart in the US with 4,512 units in 2020. The other Lexus off-roader, the GX 460, sold in much higher numbers with 28,519 units, an increase of 9.2% despite its advanced age. Gilleland acknowledged there is still a huge "thirst" for old-school body-on-frame SUVs like the GX and LX. He also admitted that Lexus is currently "exploring" a new model in this vein. It's possible that this new off-roader may be separate from the GX and LX, not a direct replacement.

As pre-orders pour in for the new Bronco, the Land Rover Defender keeps racking in industry accolades, and the Jeep Wrangler continues to sell in big numbers, it makes perfect sense for Toyota to focus on its next-generation of off-road vehicles. Rumors suggest that other markets will continue to receive the Land Cruiser, powered by a new twin-turbo V6 rather than a V8. Lexus already offers a twin-turbo V6 in the LS 500, so perhaps this new off-roader could use it as well, whether it uses the LX name or not.