After two years of study, Toyota will bring the FJ Cruiser to America this year. The production version of the rugged two-door SUV will be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, a Toyota source said. The source said it will look "very close" to the concept FJ Cruiser that debuted at the 2003 Detroit auto show. It also will carry significant cues of the original circa-1960 FJ-40 Land Cruiser, down to the identical logo. It will be imported from Japan and go on sale this fall.
Read this today on the Autoweek site. Let's hope this is true.
from Autoweek: After two years of study, Toyota will bring the FJ Cruiser to America this year. The production version of the rugged two-door SUV will be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, a Toyota source said. The source said it will look "very close" to the concept FJ Cruiser that debuted at the 2003 Detroit auto show. It also will carry significant cues of the original circa-1960 FJ-40 Land Cruiser, down to the identical logo. It will be imported from Japan and go on sale this fall
It's based off the new Tacoma, so IFS and live axle rear are for sures. But the Gods might give us straight axles all around. I think Toyota is going after Jeep Wrangler. With 100,000+ sales for Jeep, Toyo may go for blood and introduce a killer rock crawler.
On toyotas web site the release is not until 2006 and claims it is based on the older taco with a supercharged V-6. Info from toyota dealers I have have talked to suggest that the price will also be in the high 50,000 dollar range. Where are you getting your information from?
I've read 'bout that 50k model. A 2-door for 50k makes no sense. I'll buy a GX470 first. -But I read (can't recall where) that a model below the 4Runner is the market Toyo is going for. Though nice, who really wants a Highlander or Rav4 for an outdoor lifestyle. I'm basing all my knowledge on what I've read and my facts are as good as the people who write them. But these people don't work for Toyota, are not part of their marketing department and are not even close to being on the Board of Directors, so -whew!- let's wait until Chicago to see what Toyota has to offer us.
If that happens, and it is priced in the 30K-35K range...say bye bye Tundra. They should really put the iForce in some as an option though. Because just like the older LC's, people will put V8s in them anyways. I know my FJ60 needs a V8!
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2006 Model year so expect a third quarter release likely.
Also I would fully expect them to target the Xterra and Wrangeler but knowing toyota it will be priced slightly higher than either of them.
Probably 90% chance of it being IFS due to the "Tacoma Chassis" claim that has been made throughout.
I think the 4.0L VVTi engine would be a great canidate. If it is going to compete with the xterrra it will need it as the xterra is getting a 265HP naturally aspirated V6 this year also.
I will probably trade in my tundra for this if it
A) Has AT LEAST the 4L V6.
B) Has more styling cues from the original FJ40 than the concept truck.
C) Pricing starts under 25k
D) Has factory electronic rear locker option
Knowing toyota though it will be such a vanillaized version that it wont be worth it. We'll see....
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My only reso is the fact that it is a 2-door with access doors a-la Saturn Ion style. At least that was the way the concept was constructed. If it is based on the Tacoma it will have the 4.0. Yum. I hope it weights below 4000lbs because that is an important number for gas usage and nimble handling.
My friend at Toyota corporate told me about this a couple of years ago. He was off a bit as he told me they were aiming to have it out in '05 and that it might actually replace the Rav4.
I doubt it. I talked with a District rep at Cash Blast in Atlantic City back when the Sequoia was still under design and he told me back then that it would replace the Landcruiser. Fast forward to 2005 and the Landcruiser is still with us and the Sequoia is going strong. There's some illustrations floating around in the Autoweek forums of the 2006 RAV4.
Mackabee
I have been fumbling the numbers: Rav4 awd - 20k, 4Runner SR5 4wd - 30k, Highlander awd v6 - 28k. It seems to me that this new machine has quite a gap to fill. Considering the price of a Tacoma SR5 D/C, what 'bout 26k?, then friends, we have a 21k-30k spread for the FJ. So either buy a loaded Taco SR5 Ex/C or a stripped Taco D/C or, let's take a moment and pray - an off-road rock crawler with seating for four. This makes a purchase really hard. Either have a bed to throw gear in or not because the price difference will be small. I hope.
FJ cruiser ordered into production.
for posting that info.
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