The rugged look and wide stance of SUVs like the Hummer H2 have been a hit with buyers who can afford the fairly steep price and limited fuel economy. That clunky appeal hasn't been lost on Toyota, who offered one of the first off-road adventure vehicles in the early 1960s - the legendary FJ-40 Land Cruiser. With a bold "Back to the Future" theme, they'll build an affordable, modern interpretation of that Toyota classic. Very similar to the FJ Cruiser Concept shown in 2003, the Toyota FJ Cruiser will be in showrooms in early 2006. It's aimed at young buyers with active outdoor lifestyles. Power will be from a 4.0-liter/245 horsepower V-6, and a five-speed automatic on two- or four-wheel-drive models, or an available six-speed manual on 4x4 models only. Just like the outside, the interior of the FJ Cruiser is tough and straightforward, but not stripped or boring.
Body-color accents surround the industrial-looking instruments, a mechanical appearance that extends to the wheel, shifter, and door panels. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, AM/FM/CD stereo, and tilt wheel, and a full range of extra cost comfort, safety and convenience options will also be available. In back, the rear seats fold flat for maximum cargo room. With the FJ Cruiser, Toyota brings basic functionality, flexible utility, and affordability to a vehicle with rugged styling and an aggressive stance. It all adds up to an offering that should be a hit with young, and young-at-heart, buyers.
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