2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series facelift spy photo

A Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series has been photographed in Japan with what appears to be its first makeover in more than 15 years – and it could be in showrooms by the end of this year.

The blurry image – which appears to have been taken from a security camera, and shared by @oriba_lc300 and Kurdistan Automotive Blog on Instagram – shows a LandCruiser 76 Series wagon in Japan with a camouflage wrap over the front fascia and a new wheel design.

Details are difficult to make out, but the grille appears to wear 'TOYOTA' heritage script – similar to the 70th Anniversary special edition unveiled two years ago – and the headlights look to be different from the model in showrooms today.

For now it is unclear if this new front-end styling will come to Australia – or if it will be a Japan exclusive, as part of plans to bring the 70 Series back to showrooms there later this year.

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Japanese reports claimed the LandCruiser 70 Series returning to Japan would wear a new fascia with round headlights, 'TOYOTA' grille script, and a retro-inspired black grille frame and bumper.

This is set to coincide with the introduction of 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder power and a six-speed automatic transmission, borrowed from the Toyota Prado and Toyota HiLux.

Drive has previously reported the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel and six-speed auto combination is expected to become an option alongside the 4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel and five-speed manual in Australia from later this year.

It will be the first four-cylinder Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series sold in Australia since 1991, and the first automatic version since a four-speed gearbox was discontinued in 1990.

MORE: Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series to return to Japanese showrooms with Prado engine – report

It remains to be seen if the new face for Japan's LandCruiser 70 Series is introduced in Australia and other global markets where the 38-year-old four-wheel-drive is still sold.

Drive has previously reported the introduction of the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel is expected to coincide with minor cosmetic exterior changes, plus a new infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and possibly the Toyota HiLux-derived steering wheel from the 70th Anniversary edition.

If the Japanese front fascia comes to Australia, it would be the first facelift for the LandCruiser 70 Series since 2007, when the turbo-diesel V8 joined the range – and necessitated a wider front fascia and broader front-wheel track.