Toyota discontinue the FJ Cruiser. We’ll go weep while you grab the details
Story: Aninda Sardar
They say all good things come to an end, and so it is that Toyota’s FJ Cruiser has reached the end of its lifespan. The Japanese auto giant has announced that production of the FJ Cruiser will cease this August. The FJ Cruiser was designed and developed to pay homage to the iconic FJ40 of which Toyota produced 1.1 million units over nearly a quarter of a century between 1960 and 1984. The idea of creating the FJ Cruiser came about in the late 1990s when Toyota USA decided to encourage design projects that would lead to the creation of a modern and capable 4X4 that would appeal to younger drivers, some of whom might not even know about the original FJ40.
As a result of this decision, a Retro Cruiser concept was showcased in 1999 at the Chicago Auto Show. The concept was essentially a 1967 FJ40 that had been converted by Rod Millen. The concept used the chassis and V8 engine of a contemporary Land Cruiser combined with the body work of the old FJ40 (the latter in fact being the third generation of the Land Cruiser).
The next step in the evolution of what would go on to become the FJ Cruiser would be the Rugged Youth Utility concept showcased by the Japanese auto giant at the 2003 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Unlike the Retro Cruiser concept, this was a thoroughly modern vehicle that merely borrowed styling cues from the old FJ40. The concept was a runaway success with public demand led to the creation of the production version, which was displayed at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show, of the Rugged Youth Utility concept that we know as the FJ Cruiser.
The FJ Cruiser – a modern interpretation of a Toyota classic – uses a 272 PS 380 Nm four-litre V6 petrol engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Of course, the vehicle gets the benefit of part time 4WD, electrically activated differential lock and switchable active traction control. The FJ Cruiser also boasts the best approach (36 degrees) and departure angles (31 degrees) in the entire Toyota 4X4 range, which really speaks volumes about the vehicle’s off-road abilities. While the original FJ Cruiser was available with substantial equipment and technologies, Toyota upgraded the vehicle even further in 2012, adding satellite navigation, off-road cruise control called CRAWL. The latter maintains a uniform low velocity over rugged terrain by controlling engine output and brake pressure. This upgrade also saw a doubling of the vehicle’s range to a notional 1,400 km with Toyota supplementing the 72-litre main petrol tank with an 87-litre sub tank. The final upgrade to the FJ Cruiser came the following year when Toyota endowed the vehicle with newly designed seven-spoke 17-inch wheels.
The demise of the FJ Cruiser however also paves the way for Toyota’s next 4X4 resurrection programme. So stay tuned to this space to learn more about the upcoming 4Runner from Toyota.
