A brand new report alleges that Toyota’s future FJ Cruiser revival may experience on the identical structure as its new $13,000 Hilux Champ, a compact truck. Japan’s Best Car journal alleges that the pickup’s platform will underpin the corporate’s upcoming off-roader, which is able to enter manufacturing later this 12 months.
Like most issues on the web, it is best to take this information with a grain of salt. Toyota has only sorta teased such a model, with a cryptic Land Cruiser FJ trademark surfacing in November spinning up the rumor mill after a report alleged the mannequin would additionally pack a hybrid powertrain.
Even earlier Best Car reviews appear to contradict this new data. The publication beforehand reported that the brand new FJ would experience on the TNGA-F structure, which underpins the Toyota Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tundra, Lexus LX, and Lexus GX.
Attempting to suss out what an automaker will construct subsequent is a idiot’s errand. Companies aren’t desirous to spill the beans on future merchandise, and leaked particulars are both proper on the cash or wildly off base, with a lot of the data based mostly on imprecise leaks from nameless sources. Contradicting reviews are widespread, and you may’t click on three hyperlinks on the web in the present day with out stumbling upon some hopium.
Does the concept of a bare-bones tiny off-roader with retro styling and boxy proportions sound superb? Yes, it does tickle an itch in our 11-year-old brains, however it would not print Toyota cash. American customers aren’t keen on small and low-cost, so an SUV based mostly on the Champ launched in Thailand late final 12 months looks as if a non-starter, at the very least for the US market.
However, Toyota would not actually have a compact off-road platform in its portfolio if it is trying to supply one thing smaller than the Land Cruiser. It may reskin the RAV4, however that would additionally dampen its off-road capabilities as Toyota walks a wonderful line between off-road enjoyable and affordability.
But possibly that is the hopium speaking.