For far too long the American market has enjoyed Toyota’s retro 4×4, which to be perfectly honest is the only Jeep-like vehicle that has caught my attention in a long time. Sensing that perhaps South Africans might be interested in a solid offroad vehicle with great street-cred, they’ve just launched it here. Yesterday in fact. We’ve got all the details and pictures here:
With styling cues from the original FJ40, such as the white roof, single round headlights and even sporting an original TOYOTA badge, the FJ cruiser is here to make you nostalgic for Land Cruisers of old.
With solid Land Cruiser underpinnings, the FJ is a serious 4×4, as opposed to a not-s0-serious 4×4 designed for the horrors of shopping centre car parks and climbing the curb at your daughter’s hockey game.
Four variants are available at launch, all sporting a 4.0 litre V6 petrol engine. Let’s get technical for a minute here.The powerplant is good for a rather massive 200kW (at 5600rpm) and 380Nm (at 4400rpm). With Toyota’s clever iVVTi (Intelligent Variable Valve Timing) operating all 24 valves, torque and power is spread nicely across the rev range.
In normal road mode, power is sent to the rears. Selecting 4×4 mode will send power to all four wheels through the transfer box, through the five-speed automatic transmission. The five speed auto box is equipped with Toyota’s AI Shift control with Flex Lock-Up, which measures road conditions, power requirements and driver inputs to adjust gear selection and gear changes to best deliver on driver intentions. Of course, low range is available. What did you expect?
Angles are important when offroading, apparently. You’ve got 34 degrees upfront, a breakover angle of 29 degrees and a departure angle of 30 degrees. Translation: you can drive up and down steep things. Ground clearance is 245mm on the FJ’s standard 17inch wheels and rubber.
We’ll be driving the FJ soon and let you know what we think of it. Prices below followed by a gallery.
Prices for the full range of Toyota FJ Cruiser in South Africa
FJ Cruiser: R435 500
FJ Desert Cruiser: R450 400
Nudge bar with mounted driving lamps, all weather carpets, tow bar, rock rails, and Desert badges – Limited Edtion in Sandstorm colour.
FJ Trail Cruiser: R451 700
Roof rack with integrated driving lamps, black spare wheel cover, tow bar, all weather carpets and Trail badges – Limited Edition in Grey Metallic colour.
FJ Sport Cruiser: R457 300
Raven black model with leather seats, chrome detailing on bumper, high mounted air intake, door handles, side mirrors, radiator grille, carpet set, FJ scuff plates and Sport badges.
