Indirect successor to the FJ will reportedly debut in the fourth quarter of the year, suggestively at the Tokyo Mobility Show in October.
Sporadically hinted at since the emergence of an outline teaser image at the unveiling of the new Land Cruiser Prado two years ago, the uncovering of a single patent image in Thailand has suggested the unveiling of the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ to happening in 2025 after all.
From FT-4X to Compact Cruiser
Teased as far back as the New York International Auto Show in 2017 as the FT-4X Concept, the indirect successor to the FJ Cruiser morphed into a second concept called the Compact Cruiser EV four years ago.
Initially reported as being based on the unibody TNGA-K platform, and subsequently on the older IMV 0 that underpins the Hilux Champ/Hilux Rangga, no definitive details have emerged so far.
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According to the mentioned image, obtained by Top Gear Philippines over the weekend, the production “junior” Land Cruiser will appear as is and, reportedly, debut around October, a month that coincides with the Tokyo Mobility Show.
More reminiscent of the Compact Cruiser EV, which formed part of Toyota’s planned 16 electric vehicle roll-out, the blocky exterior incorporates elements from both the original FJ Cruiser and Prado, as well as the Land Cruiser 70-series.
Going further, the publication states that, unlike the Compact Cruiser EV, the Land Cruiser FJ will inherent the same engines as the Hilux Champ/Hilux Rangga, namely the 2.4 GD-6 turbodiesel and the normally aspirated 2.7-litre petrol.
For the moment, it remains unknown as to whether the FJ will have the option four-wheel-drive as the Hilux Champ/Hilux Rangga is exclusively rear-wheel-driven.
More soon
Likely to be positioned above the all-new RAV4, a hybrid variant has also been mulled, although at present, no other details are unknown and are therefore open to speculation.
Given the uncovering of the images and patent, submitted in Thailand at the end of January this year, don’t be surprised if official images or even spy shots do emerge within the next few months.
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