TOYOTA plans to challenge both the Land Rover Discovery and the Mitsubishi Shogun with an all new mid-sized Landcruiser to be launched this autumn. The three and five door vehicles will replace the Landcruiser II and 4Runner models.

Full details of the new vehicle's specification - and prices - are still under wraps but the company revealed early details this week.

Features include: Newly developed 3.4 litre, 24v V6 petrol engine delivering 131 KW at 4,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 303 Nm at 3,600 rpm; 3.0 litre turbodiesel, in-line four cylinder engine with electronic fuel injection, developing 92 KW at 3,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 295 Nm at 2,400 rpm; Impact protection measures exceeding proposed 1998 EU safety standards for frontal offset and side impact collisions; Dual airbags as standard, with front seatbelt pretensioners and high-mounted stop light.