FJ Cruiser Concept

"The FJ Cruiser effectively fills a gap in the Toyota lineup which was once our core heritage - capable, affordable and durable vehicles that are youthful, fun-to-drive, aggressive and tough," said Don Esmond, senior vice president automotive operations. "The FJ Cruiser will deliver true off-road ruggedness, image and performance at a very low price, making it highly accessible for a large volume of young buyers."

The final production design of the FJ Cruiser was a joint project by Toyota Motor Corporation and Calty Design Research, which developed the original concept vehicle shown at the North American International Auto Show in 2003. Chiseled from nearly a half-century tradition of tough off-road performance provided by the legendary FJ 40, the original 4Runner, and 4x4 compact pickups, the FJ Cruiser was developed as a basic, capable and affordable off-roader aimed specifically at young buyers with active outdoor lifestyles.

The FJ Cruiser takes on an authentic functional form, yet adopts several styling cues from the original FJ 40. Some of these cues are notable on the front end by its wide grille with "Toyota" logo badging, round headlights, and off-set combination lamps. Additional inspiration can be found through its upright windshield and white cap roof. Traits are also noticeable in the rear with wrapping rear corner windows. The modern shape of the FJ Cruiser is woven into a compact package set on a wide track, producing enhanced stability and a powerful stance.

Utility features include a two-part rear hatch with flip-up glass, black overfenders with mudguards, and silver painted bumper extenders, mirrors, door handles and skid plate. Easy rear passenger entry into the two-door SUV is achieved with rear access doors.

Power is supplied by a 4.0-liter V6 engine, generating 245 horsepower and 282 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission on both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and an available six-speed manual on 4x4 models.

The five-passenger FJ Cruiser rides on a modified 4Runner platform and features 17-inch steel wheels and four-wheel disc brakes. Just like all of the SUV's in Toyota's line-up, the FJ Cruiser will be equipped with the STAR SAFETY SYSTEM
 
Thai said:

30%2007%20FJ%20Cruiser.jpg


Is the button on the bottom for rear park assist? If so, that would be a cool feature to have on the 4Runner.
 
I hated the photos at the top, but going down towards the bottom, the pictures of the production models actually don't look too bad, especially in more realistic colors and materials. Unfortunately, as long as this thing only has two doors, I'll have to stick with 4Runners until the kids my wife and I plan on are 20 years old. 2 doors are not 2 practical for a growing family :)
 
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That does look nice...

Thank God they removed the fake 'structural-X' embossing on the sides of the bumpers. That was my biggest styling complaint.

Also cool to see they actually are having a removable GPS. Not quite as integrated as I would like, but better than Velcro. The pictures show a Garmin Quest 2 GPS (http://www.garmin.com/products/quest2/ ). This is a nice GPS for auto use, but it doesn't have many out-of-the-car features, so the removability bit is not very interesting...

--Bill
 
And as I keep looking:

- The rear windows look very deeply recessed in the door. The view for the rear-seat passengers might be quite dismal, as well as visibility when doing head-checks.
- The radio has MP3/WMA support, ability to navigate folders, and an AUX input (but I don't see a front plug, ala Honda Element, anywhere).
- In addition to the button that Mark86 saw, there seems to be two ultrasonic (I believe that's what they are) transceivers on the rear bumper, further confirming the park-assist.
- A plus of the Quest 2 over a built in GPS is Garmin's Topo USA product can be downloaded to the unit, which will be a boon for off-roaders.
- I think this thing could use a sunroof...

--Bill
 
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Link:

Edmunds Full Review

Vehicle Tested:
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4dr SUV
MSRP of Test Vehicle: $29,500 Price It!!

What Works:
Extreme off-road ability, comfortable and supportive front seats, retro styling that captures the spirit of the original.

What Needs Work:
Limited visibility fore and aft, rear-seat entry hindered in spite of reverse-opening doors, styling may not work for everyone.

Bottom Line:
If you never go off-road you'll like it; if you always go off-road, you'll love it.


My notes: i am confused with the 4wd system setup. Manual 4x4 gets full-time 4wd (like in 4runner), while automatics get a part-time system like in Tacoma??!! ATRAC is "optional" and is activated by a button?? Suspension travel is ONLY 8 and 9 inches front to rear, respectively??!

I wonder if the Edmunds crew just does not know what they're talking about??
 
Link:

New Car TestDrive Review of FJ

Summary
The FJ Cruiser is Toyota's newest sport utility vehicle and its most capable when it comes to getting where you want to go when there's no pavement beneath your tires. Like Hummers and Jeep Wranglers, the FJ Cruiser isn't for everyone. Not everyone will appreciate its heritage, whether in the iconic design cues brought forward in a thoroughly modern vehicle or in the way this vehicle lives up to the Land Cruiser's much deserved reputation for getting across deserts, up mountains and through swamps and jungles on continents around the globe. But for those whose lifestyles include exploring, whether it be sandy beaches, mountain trails, secluded lakes, busy ski hills or even the urban jungle, the FJ Cruiser provides Toyota quality at a competitive price and wrapped in a unique design, inside and out.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Larry Edsall filed this report after driving the FJ Cruiser in the hills west of Los Angeles and in the desert around Palm Springs, California.
 
Don't get me wrong, because I think it is great that Toyota actually produced a close-representation of their concept, but referencing back to page 1 I noticed a few things I wish they hadn't changed. One, I loved those big tires with the unpractical tread pattern. Two, the bumpers with the winches really add to the vehicles toughness and probably the pricetag. Three, I like the front interior of the concept better. Yes, it looked a little more "Lego" with the yellow touches, but some of the touches like the horizontal, and functional bars on the concept were just mimiked in the production version. I do have to give them props for the cargo aread and floor which I actually like even better in the production.

It would be great if that off-roading version they are talking about had the winches & sliders as an option.
 

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