When the Toyota FJ Cruiser first arrived in North America in the mid-2000s, the retro styling and distinct 'Toyota' inscription across the grille was destined to be a curious footnote in automotive history. The retro aesthetic was mostly a fad in automotive design, but while the FJ Cruiser went out of major production in 2014, it still has an enthusiastic dedicated following – and used-car pricing to match.Toyota has revived the FJ name with a mini Land Cruiser model, named Land Cruiser FJ. Following its reveal, Toyota is leaning into the enthusiasm for the name with four custom versions of the new vehicle. Roll Your Own FJ Toyota The custom variations Toyota is showing off are: The Street Cruiser, The Legendary, The Meridian, and The Nature Explorer. The theme of The Street Cruiser with its urban jungle vibe and the camper-styled Nature Explorer are self-explanatory. The Meridian adopts the style of an exploration vehicle, complete with a snorkel for wading across rivers, and chunky Toyo Open Country R/T tires to grip loose surfaces.However, The Legendary is where Toyota leans into its heritage and understanding of the nostalgia gene we all have. It references the early generations of the Land Cruiser from back when it was evolving from a simple copy of the military Jeep. The example Toyota shows even has beige paint and chromed steel wheels, complete with Yokomo tires with the sidewall lettering in white. And we use the word example for a reason, as that's what Toyota intends them to be. Inviting The Aftermarket To Play Toyota Toyota doesn't intend these custom models to become trims or special editions. Instead, they are “designed to inspire the custom car market.” Usually, the custom market doesn't need much inspiration to go nuts on a Toyota SUV, but neither does Toyota for that matter. However, it looks like Toyota believes it needs a nudge in the right direction. Possibly because this FJ is so small, and may not be taken too seriously as a serious off-roader as a result.And the Land Cruiser is seriously short – just 101.6 inches long. For reference, the current Mazda MX5 sports car is 154.1 inches long. In real life, the Land Cruiser FJ is going to look like a toy compared to the full-size version. It will be cost-effective, though, if it isn't a toy and is as rugged and has the ability and features Toyota promises, which include repairability and axle articulation."Today, I am proud to unveil the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. The Land Cruiser FJ is the first Land Cruiser to be mass-produced outside of Japan, and we are extremely honored that we have been entrusted with its production. The Land Cruiser FJ boasts a high local content rate of 84%, and we plan to export more than 40,000 units annually to 60 countries, including Japan."– Noriaki Yamashita, President of Toyota Motor ThailandUnfortunately, of the 60 countries the Land Cruiser FJ will be exported to, the US isn't among them. It has clearly been designed for the Asian, African, Middle East, and Latin American markets, which have different demands versus the European and North American markets. Much as we would love to see a small off-roader from Toyota here in the US, it's not going to be the Land Cruiser FJ.Source: Toyota
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