The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 has been awarded first prize in the 4×4 category at the British Insurance Car Awards.
The awards have been in existence since 2004 and were first introduced with the aim of raising awareness amongst consumers of the vehicles with the best security.
Decisions are based on how easy it is to steal, or steal from, a vehicle and assessed using the New Vehicle Security Rating Scheme (NVSR).
The winner is the vehicle which achieves the highest combined points score.
According to Peter Roberts, chief executive of insurer funded research centre Thatcham, manufacturers are making great strides to ensure that their vehicles are as secure as possible.
"Manufacturers are continuing to keep ahead of the criminal fraternity – committing resources to the development of highly sophisticated systems to keep cars secure," he commented.
"Many car thieves are just having to give up – thanks to the industry’s continued quest to drive down car crime."
The winning vehicle in the 4×4 class went on sale earlier this year, is the eighth generation of the model and is powered by a new 4.5-litre V8 D-4D engine.
The new Invincible model from Toyota’s Land Cruiser range "reaches new heights of style and luxury", according to the Japanese car manufacturer.
Coming with the choice of a 3.0 D-4D diesel engine or a 4.0 VVT-i V6 petrol alternative, the former special edition unit is set to replace the LC5 as a mainstream model.
From £37,795, motorists will be able to drive a vehicle with a whole host of added extras designed to make life easier from Toyota dealerships.
Specification on a standard model sees the vehicle equipped with a rear parking monitor, privacy glass and Bluetooth connectivity to help things run a little more smoothly.
"Toyota’s legendary Land Cruiser SUV reaches new heights of style and luxury," said the firm.
"It offers a higher specification than any other model in the line-up."
Meanwhile, Toyota’s consolidated global sales grew by seven per cent from January to September this year, according to Reuters.
Toyota has described its new Land Cruiser Invincible as "a superhero vehicle that’s designed for the real world".
A range of new features have been added to the Invincible, offering an extra £2,500 in value for a price tag only £500 higher than the previous version, according to Toyota.
The new eight-seat 4×4 has dark-tinted rear privacy glass on the outside as well as stone coloured leather upholstery and an entertainment system, including a DVD player, on the inside.
Also coming as standard with the new vehicle is full-map satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control and electrically adjustable heated front seats.
Toyota states that the Invincible has poise on the road that can turn into "formidable" off-road capabilities when necessary. Among the 4×4′s tools is hill-start assist control, downhill assist control and electronic modulated suspension.
A Euro IV-compliant, three-litre engine capable of delivering 173bhp powers the new Land Cruiser, along with a five-speed automatic gearbox.
The model goes on full sale on June 1st.
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