28 June 2001: The Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado D-4D diesel, overall winner of the Irish 4x4 and Offroad magazine annual awards, has also been elected ‘4x4 of the year, 2001’ by French specialist offroad publication 4x4 Magazine. A jury composed of readers and journalists declared the Toyota tops after very thorough tests in the rough, desert terrain of southern Morocco.

The award is now in its 17th consecutive year and this latest triumph represents Toyota’s winning the award for the sixth time since 1988, including victories in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

The three finalists - Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado D-4D, Mitsubishi Shogun and Nissan Patrol - had been pre-selected by the readers of 4x4 Magazine from the 18 new or revised vehicles that have entered the French market since July 1999.

Over 3.7 million Land Cruisers have been sold in the 40 years since it was first produced, 1.2 million units more than all Land Rovers sold since their introduction.