The Toyota FJ Cruiser created quite a following since it was first introduced in 2016. Although global distribution officially ended in 2017, the SUV is still being shipped to select markets. A digital artist has put together a rendition of what this model could look like if it were released this decade.
Penned by Rain Prisk, the digital render of the Toyota FJ Cruiser adds a new bonnet that retains the rectangular air intake and modern LED headlamps that integrate into the grille. This is contrasted by a black bumper design that retains the silver anti-scuff plates but introduces a pair of red recovery points.
At the side, the Toyota FJ Cruiser maintains its two-and-a-half door configuration with the thick C-pillar but the roofline has been lowered and flattened. The door mirror retains its angular shape but has been shortened in-line with the roof. Further notable changes include rounded wheel arches as opposed to the squared ones and a black strip that runs through the centre of the door line.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is powered by a 4,0-litre V6 1GR-FE petrol engine worth 200 kW and 380 N.m, linked to a five-speed automatic transmission.
In 2014, the Japanese brand announced that the Toyota FJ Cruiser would no longer be sold in North America. However, sales continued in various other markets around the world, including Japan, parts of the Middle East, Australia, and, of course, South Africa.
In 2016, word from Toyota Australia suggested that the FJ Cruiser would end its production run in August of that year. The statement suggested that the off-roader will “leave lasting memories as one of the most iconic vehicles in Toyota’s rich SUV history”.
