What blindspot? Toyota FJ Cruiser Convertible
We came across Newport Convertible Engineering at the SEMA show a couple of weeks ago, and the company's FJ Cruiser Convertible immediately caught our eye. Not only does this $10,000 conversion give FJ Cruiser owners a power-operated soft top in place of the standard steel roof, but it also eliminates the FJ's giant C-pillar that creates a huge blindspot for the driver and makes back seat passengers feel claustrophobic. Of course, the sight lines are still pretty bad with the top up on the FJ Cruiser Convertible, but we would hope after spending 10 large on such a conversion that you'd want the top down as often as possible. You're also forced to sacrifice some cargo space, as the soft top's roofline slopes down immediately after the roll cage's cross bar located just behind the rear seats. It almost looks like a four-door coupe.
Newport also has experience shaving the domes off of such cars as the Scion xB (!), Dodge Charger (!!), Cadillac CTS (!!!), Cadillac Escalade (!!!!), HUMMER H3 (!!!!!) and Ford Excursion (!!!!!!).
Follow the jump for plenty more pics of the FJ Cruiser Convertible with top up and down.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jeff 5:25PM (5/13/2008)
I think the idea is excellent - I've had a wrangler before and loved it - but it was always a little small and too light on the highway - after all, even if you do go offroading, you still need to drive it on highways sometimes - or at least i did/do. So, when the FJ came out, i was excited but very disappointed that there was no convertible (soft or hard removable). I test drove it and it seemed pretty solid - but the rear visibility was horrible b/c of the aforementioned pillars so a convertible seems like a perfect solution and the only decent (new) SUV convertible idea that can compete with the Wrangler. What other SUV is a convertible?? I'm like a dog in the sense that I love open wind on my face - which is why I've missed my wrangler so I really hope Toyota follows through with this idea - I've heard Fall of '09 - we shall see. It's a damn shame they don't have one already knowing that it would be popular and would keep in line with the old FJ's but business is business. Also, this yellow one - those wheels/rims are completely ghetto and tacky - it's a pimp ride with those hideous shiny things on it - my god, with some all black wheels or basic stock silver ones, it would looks 100% better. In terms of safety and warranty stuff, I've read that if you can't wait and if you get the chop done at Newport, that Toyota Will honor your warranty - but i don't know for sure. And, Bob, what makes you so sure these reinforcements are so shoddy if done by Newport? I tend to think that, in all likelihood, they'll be as good as any factory ones - you pay 10k for a special job vs. mass production at Toyota- might be actually safer and better. I have known at least one friend who flipped in a wrangler and they said the rollbar really saved them (I believe the top was off at the time) - are you saying you have good reason to believe that there isn't any real roll cage in this FJ convertible design vs. a Wrangler? If so, then perhaps it is a lot less safe. I still think it's a great idea and there's no reason why they can't do it up right at Toyota as they should have from the get-go. Give the people what they want. And, while they're at it, why not put a TDI-type clean diesel engine in there too? or in a Wrangler here in the states for that matter? damn shame about that.
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Erik 6:13PM (11/14/2006)
God bless any company that turns regular cars into convertibles!
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D Man 6:17PM (11/14/2006)
Nice 4x4 performance, but I'd rather get a Nissan Xterra!
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Corey W. 6:20PM (11/14/2006)
I await the Autoblog classic "every rapper, drug dealer or resident of the "hood","urban"..etc. will be buying one of these" responses.
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Katie 6:23PM (11/14/2006)
everything was great till they changed the rims. Get rid of the dubs and put some 18" tires and it will be good.
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Bennet Pullen 6:34PM (11/14/2006)
The pics on the website for the convertable Scion xB and Hummer H3 are just very bad photoshop jobs, I wonder about the rest?
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Fabulo 6:36PM (11/14/2006)
The charger looks pretty good. 4 door convertible, you don't see that often. I'll take mine sans the ugly wheels though.
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RJ 6:39PM (11/14/2006)
Another 10 grand for an already overpriced SUV. This thing is basically a copy of a Honda Element on steroids and for much more money, less gas mileage and it requires premium fuel. At least the Honda Element has a useable back seat and runs on regular. I see so many of these FJ's driven around town here in Maine by women who don't even look like they would know how to use 4wd, let alone have any need for an FJ cruiser other than to "look cool". And we wonder why foreigners think Americans are stupid. Look at the vehicles we buy.
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Toyota FJ Cruiser 7:11PM (11/14/2006)
That's pretty cool. I dont know what #7 is talking about.. the FJ is probably the most reasonably priced SUV on the market for what you get.
If you're interested in the FJ Cruiser, be sure to check out http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/
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Toyota FJ Cruiser 6:48PM (11/14/2006)
Eh' not my back, but whatever floats your boat.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com
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Flagship 6:50PM (11/14/2006)
Poor fitting parts, lots of uneven gaps, reminds me of an old Nash.
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milevin 8:13PM (11/14/2006)
Good to see Toyota will challange GM at every turn including who can produce the ugliest car on the market. Congratulations, Toyota.
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Shoaib S 7:18PM (11/14/2006)
Anyone else think it looks like a civilian version of the Warthog from Halo 2?
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Image:Golden_warthog.jpg
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Vik 7:40PM (11/14/2006)
-Gulp- sorry I just swallowed some vomit here.
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JJ 7:32PM (11/14/2006)
Its as UGLY in convertible form as production version hardtop....Square wheel wells for round wheels, god awful look......
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northstar 7:49PM (11/14/2006)
That is so goddamn ugly it makes my teeth hurt.
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Mike i-lik-It 7:54PM (11/14/2006)
Comment about Scion & Hummer by #5 is correct. The rest are as real as FJ. FJ looks to be the best work they've Done & that's not saying much.
I think I just pooped a little after seeing the two SUV.
I think you can take a chainsaw to any Car, but making any car a convertible should be left to pros.
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JP 8:17PM (11/14/2006)
#3 - you are that guy.
This seems like poor execution. But if toyota did a legitimate removable hardtop, I think a lot of folks would be giddy.
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RZ 8:35PM (11/14/2006)
LOL, i was proposing making convertable SUVs for YEARS, it fanaly hit them.
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nipponboi 9:14PM (11/14/2006)
#9 "Poor fitting parts, lots of uneven gaps, reminds me of an old Nash"
#13"sorry I just swallowed some vomit here"
You people are rasist and you are blinded by your love of crazy american car. Toyota makes better SUV than you can make escalade you think it is bad. Nippon will soon have cars with option convertable for all cars and your american converting busyness will lose. NIPPON POWER!
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