John Neff reports from SEMA that Toyota's FJ Cruiser Soft Top concept is fairly cool, with its supercharged 4.7-liter V8 and removable top. But the short, Hummer H2 SUT-like bed in back seems more useful as a beer cooler than for hauling sizeable quantities of stuff. GM recently saw the limited appeal of the H2's diminutive bed and appears to have given the forthcoming H3 SUT more room for junk in its trunk. The FJ Cruiser's tiny bed is further limited by the lack of a passenger compartment pass-through.
Other features of the concept include 33-inch Mickey Thompsons on 18-inch AR wheels, TRD brakes, TRD exhaust and a droppable rear window.
(Photo gallery after the jump)
Toyota FJ Cruiser Soft Top
Click to enlarge placard
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gregg W. @ Nov 1st 2006 4:44PM
At last, you can see out of the back!
Paul @ Nov 1st 2006 4:50PM
Grammar errors on the placcard! "The 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser delivers the off-road capabilities that MEETS the needs of the American consumer" Subject-verb agreement! Hello!?
They also use the wrong 'it's' in the second line of the first paragraph the placard and leave out a comma after 'muscle' in the second paragraph.
Sorry for being so critical, I just notice this stuff. Wouldn't you think they would proofread thus stuff considering the cost of building this vehicle and bringing it to SEMA?
Paul @ Nov 1st 2006 4:52PM
Haha, I just realized that post was full of spelling errors, so I have no room to talk.
CJ @ Nov 1st 2006 5:05PM
Are you sure the seats don't flip down? Theres a seam in "bed" liner.
Fletcher @ Nov 1st 2006 5:05PM
Assuming those blacked out areas by the C pillars are glass, it's a big improvement on rear view visibility. Give it a raised safari-style roof and you'll almost be able to see out of the thing.
scooter @ Nov 1st 2006 5:23PM
That second picture looks like a Toyota forklift from the back. Family DNA...
Erik @ Nov 1st 2006 5:29PM
Ok this vehicle's biggest mod is that it is a convertible. Pretty cool, but WHY would they display it with the top UP????
Erik @ Nov 1st 2006 5:33PM
Oh, I get it. I have always associated "soft top" with convertibles, but is not a convertible. It just has a fabric sunroof. Duh. I guess it's not as cool as I thought.
Alain @ Nov 1st 2006 5:35PM
TuRD, 'nuff said.
tony primer @ Nov 1st 2006 5:38PM
definetly better looking and much more (I think)off-road capabilities than the hummer H-2 SUT
gerbick @ Nov 1st 2006 9:39PM
I actually like the color and look of this. Looks quite nice... and yes. I'm in the market looking for something like this.
Ben @ Nov 1st 2006 9:44PM
I am the only one that thinks this thing is ugly? My neighbor down the street traded in his maroon 350Z for a maroon one of these. Every time I see it I throw up a little in my mouth.
xmnr @ Nov 1st 2006 10:01PM
I don't think there's a single fj cruiser buyer who wouldn't, after driving both, want this one over the standard shape. It ditches the huge C-pillar (which has got to improve visibility)and seems more in line with the image of the original FJ. a total no brainer, I hope they build it! having said that, I don't need an off road truck, and I certainly wouldn't ditch a 350z for an FJ!
GhostDoggy @ Nov 2nd 2006 5:56AM
Sorry, while I had great hopes for the new FJ, I just cannot get past the Premium Unleaded gasoline requirement. Currently, the differece of $0.26 per gallon difference seems a little off-kilter.
I want to know why Toyota can offer vehicles with 2.5 and 4-liter diesels in Australie and the UK can't seem to find such offerings desired in the USA. Yeah, Americans hate diesels in trucks, right?
Howard Kerr @ Nov 2nd 2006 6:27AM
Ghostdoggy, ALL those other countries had low sulfur diesel, which the U.S. did not have til a month ago. Very few manufacturers have emissions legal diesels for sale in 2007. VW is selling 2006s and no 2007s...except for Toureg. If it were possible to sell a diesel here...they would offer it. You can't just put an engine in something and sell it if it ain't legal and or there is no fuel for it.
tnriverfish @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:10AM
...still waiting for full - actual - soft top...
crazy2 @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:13AM
What a piece of crap! The rear bed is just wide enough for a gas can? Total junk! It makes an already ugly piece of junk even more usless.
Billtown @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:19AM
Swing out rear doors? A cargo bed not big enough for anything? 2 door model only? If this was a Hummer or Jeep it would not even be on this blog! Toyota could build a turd with throwup on top, put it on wheels and you all think its great! Fools
Toyota FJ Cruiser @ Nov 8th 2006 1:02AM
I saw this in person and did not care for it much. The TRD Limited Edition FJ Cruiser was really nice tho.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com
jack flash @ Nov 10th 2006 9:29AM
AS usual.. another ugly vehicle from tyotie.. all of their cars and trucks are ugly.. oh well old folks dont pay much attention to looks.. the blue hair special... tyotie