Dinner with the 5TH Gen Chief Engineer

[T2Cruiser]

Mr. Akio Nishimura - Chief Engineer for FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, and 4Runner programs for Toyota Japan attended the 2010 FJSummit last week! He has been the Chief Engineer since the beginning of the FJ program, and also headed up the new 2010 4Runner.

As a CoDirector for FJSummit I had the pleasure to have dinner with NishimuraSan, his assistant TakahashiSan (spelling attempted) , also Frank Bonnet of TRD and other Toyota guests.

Although the conversation was light, I had the opportunity to thank him for making the 5th gen T4R a "step up" with everything I wanted in the FJ. 4 doors, visibility, opening back and rear windows, interior comfort improvements, yet all of the frame, drivetrain, wheeling capability of the FJ. He particularly was interested in my response to the Crawl Control and Terrain features, of which I had much positive input to give, just off the trail in Moab and Ouray.

We had a few laughs when I asked him if he was responsible for the "Party Mode" button. He happily took full credit after , i think for the first time, understanding this is a quite playful option!

Oh, by the way (and if my wine soaked memory serves, so don't hold me to it) Frank said the 5th Gen TRD Supercharger is coming...and ( here's the fuzzy part) will be, I believe he said.... October! (I'll try to get this verified.)

NishimuraSan and his colleague wheeled a fully stock FJC on some challenging trails in Ouray. I was leading another group so I missed, what I am told was, some quite capable wheeling by both of them! Here's a few pics from FJSummit Headquarters:

Mr. Akio Nishimura - Chief Engineer sporting the FJSummit Tee

Discussing my Icon suspension bits and Rocktek Bumper

Signing my dashboard ( Shelby style)
inscription in Japanese: "Nishimura, Party Mode"

Here's some background: 2010_baja_toyota_4runner

 

[Sponge]

That must have been supremely awesome!

 

[Carl_G]

T2Cruiser you are one party animal: "wine soaked" "party mode!" Haha!! If you are ever in Vancouver, BC I am going to buy you a beer.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

That's awesome!!! What I really like is the wine induced TRD supercharger.....I'm in for that if it comes to fruition!

 

[nashman69g]

awesome!! wish I could have been there!

 

[angrydog]

That's pretty cool! Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the super charger!

 

[Ryan F.]

Freakin' awesome post. Very cool. Supercharge me!

 

[NTUR4]

Good stuff!

 

[453030]

Great post. Interesting that he asked for your input on the Trail Edition off-road electronics. I am certainly going to learn and test the systems when mine arrives.

 

[philsey]

Great post T2C!

TRD rates the SC for the 4.0 in the FJ/Taco @ 304 HP/334 TRQ. Stock 4.0 in the 5G is 270/278.

I'm thinking I'd be up for that. Certainly a nice bump in Trq.

 

[Jed]

You should have offered to buy him some new glasses. His current prescription obviously need to be updated, based upon the looks of the 5th gen.

Did Chris Bangle get a job at Toyota?:lol:

 

[Quentin]

You should have offered to buy him some new glasses. His current prescription obviously need to be updated, based upon the looks of the 5th gen.

Did Chris Bangle get a job at Toyota?:lol:

The chief engineer isn't the stylist.

 

[Jed]

The chief engineer isn't the stylist.

I realize that. It was just a joke. Gotta blame somebody!

 

[Jesse1983]

I realize that. It was just a joke. Gotta blame somebody!

Jed - I don't like Honda Ridgelines, and as a result, I don't get on their forums to see what they are talking about so I can crowbar in an occasional joke. Why don't you stick to the 4th gen forum, you are no help here.

 

[dk27]

The more I see the 5th Gens cruising around the more I like them. Some of the guys on here with different bumpers, wheels and tires etc really make those things beastly.

 

[Jed]

Jed - I don't like Honda Ridgelines, and as a result, I don't get on their forums to see what they are talking about so I can crowbar in an occasional joke. Why don't you stick to the 4th gen forum, you are no help here.

First of all, I don't like Ridgelines either. I don't go on to their forums at all. Big difference between joining a forum for a vehicle that I don't own....

Secondly, that's not how I use the forum. I don't go into any particular sub-forum. I just hit "new posts" and read thru them regardless of which sub-forum they are in. That why you'll see posts from me in several different sub-forums.

And finally, if you don't like my posts, don't read them. Pretty simple.

 

[Jed]

The more I see the 5th Gens cruising around the more I like them. Some of the guys on here with different bumpers, wheels and tires etc really make those things beastly.

They need to come out with aftermarket tails. Maybe something a bit more flush to the body lines. That would help immensely (from the rear view).

 

[sandcrawler]

Jed - I don't like Honda Ridgelines, and as a result, I don't get on their forums to see what they are talking about so I can crowbar in an occasional joke. Why don't you stick to the 4th gen forum, you are no help here.

seriously! i try to stay out of the fray, but this has moved past non-constructive and well into the pathological. this guy was banned last week for pretty much single-handedly sending the "nose-dive" thread into, well, a nose-dive. next week? right back here flame-baiting the 5Gs once again.

i used to own a 2006, and while it never grew on me, i'm not slinging mud on the 4G forum spewing "hey, your 2003 looks like the bas****-child of a 4Runner's tryst with a Camry wagon wrapped in a plastic skirt like some tarted-up Chevy Avalanche."

it doesn't matter how you post here, Jed; it's how you conduct yourself when you do.

 

[Thai]

Wow, what a great chance to have!! I don't think that i will be able to hold back my questions though! The 5th gen is very nice...definitely a badass addition to the 4runner heritage! My favorite edition so far.

 

[T2Cruiser]

Too bad when threads get humped... :gun5:
I appreciate the positive responses.

It would have been nice to have a list of questions for NishimuroSan, but it was an FJ event and he just arrived off the jet for dinner. It was quite an honor to speak to him at all. Toyota arranged his attendance at 2010FJSummit and provided him an FJ to drive.

Great to see the guys directly responsible for these vehicles taking a real interest in the events, vehicles and people who wheel them! This was a great opportunity to show Toyota that we are enthusiastic about their vehicles, responsible off road sport and send the message that the niche Toyota fills in the off road community is worthwhile for years to come.

And no, Toyota will not be going back to front solid axles for the 4Runner anytime soon, but around the table, we did have a discussion about the current solid axle Landcruiser 70 vehicles that they sell worldwide ( Australia, SA, Canada) but not in the US. All were enthusiastically pitching our guests that these might have a place ( another niche?) back in the USA.:bigok: