[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Toyota has partially updated the gasoline model of its cross-country SUV, the Land Cruiser 250, and significantly strengthened anti-theft and safety features. Reflecting a spate of thefts targeting luxury vehicles, it made key functions previously offered as options standard equipment.

On April 6, local time, online outlet ITmedia reported that the core of Toyota's update is to make vehicle access authentication more sophisticated and enable responses to theft through remote control.

First, it added a "smart key distance measurement system" as standard. If the key holder is not near the vehicle, the function restricts door unlocking and engine starting using the electronic key. It is seen as a step to counter relay attacks, which amplify smart key signals to open vehicles.

It also included T-Connect as standard, allowing the engine to be shut off remotely. Owners can check vehicle status via a smartphone and remotely disable engine starting when needed. The function is based on a paid service and can be used only by subscribing to Toyota's connected service, "T-Connect Standard (22)."

Safety specifications were also strengthened. With front cross-traffic warning applied as standard, the vehicle detects cars approaching from the left or right when entering an intersection and issues alerts, improving accident prevention in urban driving. Toyota also said overall driver-assistance systems were improved to support more stable driving.

The move comes as vehicle thefts targeting high-end SUVs have surged in Japan. Local reports said the Land Cruiser series recorded the highest number of theft cases in the first half of 2025. In particular, a method dubbed the "CAN invader" has been cited as a major threat, involving access to the vehicle's internal communications network, the Controller Area Network (CAN), to control the vehicle with an external device. The method injects electronic signals from outside the vehicle to open doors or start the engine, and is seen as problematic because it can bypass existing security systems.

Toyota said the update will be applied first to the gasoline model, and added that improvements for the diesel model are expected to proceed after December this year. The industry expects the move to accelerate a trend among automakers to expand vehicle security technologies as standard equipment. It also sees cyber security and physical anti-theft technologies emerging as key elements of vehicle competitiveness as connected cars and electrification advance rapidly.