Jankel achieves Final Design Review milestone

With the Toyota LC200 due to go out of production in 2021, Jankel are highlighting this conversion as an example of how they can adapt any vehicle to meet customer needs and fill specific capability gaps in the specialist protected vehicle market.

With that in mind, the pickup design has the potential to become an after-market modification carried out on in-service LC200’s.  

Partnering with Australian Expedition Vehicles (AEV), Jankel has integrated AEV’s existing and proven pickup design with the also proven and certified, Jankel armoured LC200 base platform. Bringing together the strengths of both designs into one offering has resulted in the armoured variant maintaining its protection level whilst gaining from an additional 650mm in wheelbase.  

This combined with a heavy duty rear axle upgrade delivers a significant increase in Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM-5,800kg) and payload (up to 1,500kg depending on specification), whilst retaining the existing protected crew-cab dimensions and space. The technique of lengthening the chassis and incorporating the modular and adaptable flatbed pickup pod is easily adapted to other commonly armoured light vehicles.

In addition to the increased payload and the usable flat 1,900x1,700mm load bed space, the vehicle can be configured to deliver a number of automotive and user-orientated tactical capability enhancements such as: run-flats; improved brakes; tuned suspension; fire suppression system; door deadbolts; escape hatch; gun ports; weapons mounts; tactical lighting and a PA/siren.

The lightweight flat-bed can be delivered with a canopy or a hard-top and includes folding/removable sides and integrated modular storage bins. Following FDR, Jankel will be undertaking validation tests to include elements of PAS 301 and expects the new vehicle to be in production by July 2021.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “We’ve developed this new pickup variant of our Hot Formed Armoured LC200 as a result of receiving an order from an existing customer. As a first of its kind I can immediately see other users of armoured fleets becoming interested in similar conversions that add capability and flexibility, not available on the LC200 base platform.”

He added: “Once again, our strategy to partner with OEM’s and specialist defence suppliers to deliver bespoke capability has resulted in the exact product our customer needs, driving mission success.”