Could this be the Toyota 4x4 we've all been waiting for?

Old Land Cruiser FJ40 styling. Low priced, heavy duty, off road capable?

It will be unvieled in a few days, Febuary 9th at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show at 9:15 a.m. CST.

This will the new 2006 production version, not the concept most of us saw back in 2003. There's few details about it. Other than it will look much like the concept but a little more like the original FJ40. The price will be significantly lower than the 4Runner. Closer to the RAV4. Here's the best news of all. It will be imported from Japan. That means, Japanese design and Japanese quality and very likely will be based on the fully boxed 4Runner chassis. At we hope. This would extremely good news, if that's the case.

The Toyota 4Runner is a very capable IFS off road vehicle. But at 30 grand, it's hardly affordable to most people and rarely used off road. But stick on a better looking body, delete all that fancy, smancy stuff like overpriced navigation system, leather, power everything and other gimmicks and make it a lot cheaper...maybe include some lockers...and now we're talking.

Just a few more days to go, before we find out for sure. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I'm waiting with baited breath. It will be obvious with one peak under the front end as to what the intended market use will be for the new FJ. Yuppie-mobile or expedition vehicle. Many here have shown that yuppie-mobiles can be made to wheel really well but I'm interested in Toyotas take. Is there enough niche market demand for Toyota to bring back a straight axle FJ?

How many here would sell what they have and buy one?

I'm pretty sure it won't be a sold front axle, although you never know. Rear should be a solid axle, but probably coils, my guess is the entire suspension would be a carry over from the 4Runner, since it's the only Japanese designed SUV chassis they have. Unless they started from scratch.

However, IFS is not the end of the world for a capable stock 4x4. Especially if you include all the reliably and strengths of a Japanese designed and built Toyota (Something the Wrangler Rubicon or Dodge Powerwagon couldn't even begin to touch)with front and rear lockers and a lower geared t-case.

I don't mind IFS as much. I can even live with rack and pinion steering. What annoys me is all the frivilious stuff that Toyota puts on it's capable SUVs, like the 4Runner and Land Cruiser to drive the price up over 30K and even 60K in the case of the LC100. If I could buy what basicly amounts to a current 4Runner (even with IFS) but sans the electronic gizmos, leather, moon roof, power everything and if they include 33" tires, lockers and such, like the concept, and all for something like 20K, I'd be first in line to place my order.

The nice thing about a Japanese built FJ Cruiser SUV is that it's likely going to be intended for markets other than North America, like the current 4Runner, and will have to be designed to survive harsh use in places like South America, Africa and Australia. Our American designed and built Tacomas, Tundras, Sequoia, etc, don't have such a requirement and thus are more lightly built, in my opinion.

Thats weird I was just looking at the toyota website and browsing the concept section. Looks like the latest itteration of the new FJ has changed from the show vehicle I saw last year. I thought the site mentioned it being based on a modified Tacoma chassis. Anyway like they say in Japan "I rike it!"

FJ intro from Toyota.com

I'll tell ya what...if it looks as good as it does in the concept pictures...I just might have to pimp myself out on the streets and buy one!

lets hope it doesnt turn into the next Bling Bling ride and get tagged with spinners and 5000watt stereos <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Wonder if they'll have that ochre/mustard color too along with the classic FJ blue

Anyone else think they'll offer a diesel engine in this ??
It seems to Be the most popular thing right now
But Besides that They Have been making diesels for a long time and are making some awsome power...

My guesses:
Boxed frame, based off the Taco, independant coil-sprung front, solid coil-sprung rear, offered initially with the 2.7 & 4.0 motors & the 5sp-auto & 6sp-stick, optional rear LSD or e-locker... Maybe following in a year or 2 with a t-diesel, removeable top, couple more 'renewed interest' options... Definitely discount the 20" wheels, but the lay-flat interior (would be nice if it was hose-out composite, like the Taco bed) may stick around. The removeable GPS, integrated winch & mirror spotlights are anybody's guess, but they'd definitely be add-on's. I think it'd be nice if they had a wide range, ie- DX, SR5 & Limited models... Say spanning $18-$30k.

Supposition, supposition... Guess I'll find out how close I am in about 52 hours. Could be the replacement for the T. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

I'll put $$ on it... It'll be pre-released to a number of vendors to give them an opportunity to rice it out for next years Sema show... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Nice blind spot they built into the thing.

I'm taking the Ben Franklin approach. It will seriously disappoint. It will be a Scion-niche approach for Xterra buyers.

I have nowhere to go but 'as expected' to 'gee, better than I thought'. But I'm not about to increase my liabilities just to have one!

I wonder what Toyota will do to get back into the minitruck market, now that they no longer make one? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />