The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser is only one week away from its official reveal. Unfortunately, this 300 Series generation is not destined for North America, a fact that recently caused a last-minute sales increase of the outgoing model. The US will supposedly be compensated with a new three-row SUV that'll be built in Indiana beginning sometime next year. In other parts of the world, the 70 Series Land Cruiser still remains on sale and there's been some justifiable speculation lately over its future.

According to CarAdvice, not only is the old school 70 Series here to stay but so is its turbo-diesel V8.

"We don't have any plans to discontinue the engine that's currently in the LC70. We don't have plans to discontinue that," said a senior product manager for Toyota Australia. The gasoline-powered V8 that's also offered, however, is likely on borrowed time but no death date has been set. Diesels have become engine non grata in many countries following Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal from 2015. These oil burners still survive in some regions because their higher torque levels are ideal for SUVs and heavy-duty trucks, such as the 70 Series Land Cruiser.

Ford, Chevy, and Ram still sell diesels for their respective HD lineups, but the introduction of trucks like the F-150 Lightning and Hummer EV proves that full-on electrification can and will eventually replace diesels as well.

Having instant torque available is something truck and SUV owners will demand. The future of the Land Cruiser 70 Series itself is another interesting subject.

Introduced in 1984 as a successor to the long-running 40 Series, its last major update happened in 2007 but the bare bones and tough and nails SUV still maintains an extremely loyal base. Toyota has taken note. The carmaker has joined forces with an Australian company and begun a 70 Series EV pilot program. The technology to convert the 70 Series to pure battery electrification is clearly there, but it remains to be seen whether the prototypes can deliver the necessary goods.