Autoblog

In 2007, Toyota will be bringing to market a Limited Edition model of its popular FJ Cruiser, complete will all the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) goodies.

First off, the limited edition version will be sprayed down head-to-toe, in black paint, nixing its trademarked white roof. The wheels will be coated in an anthracite finish and wrapped with uprated BF Goodrich All-Terrain rubber. To complete the exclusive look, expect the prerequisite "TRD Limited Edition" badges adorning as many surfaces as possible.

Appearance is one thing, capability is another and TRD recognizes that the base model could benefit from a few staple mods to make it a more competent off-roader. The stock suspension will be tossed and fitted with TRD/Bilstein shocks, developed for dirt duty and covered in a red finish. The new shocks are claimed to reduce squat and dive, as well as increase straight-line stability. Another mod includes mating the locking diff with the Active Control computer, which will aid the FJ when rock crawling is the activity du jour. The package will also include a TRD performance exhaust and "rock rails."

The interior will benefit with an array of airbags, including both seat-mounted and side curtain, along with a "multi-informational display" that comes equipped with a temp. gauge, compass and inclinometer.

A total of 3,200 vehicles will be made, with a $7,265 increase in MSRP on manual models and a $7,250 increase on automatic models. The $15 premium on the manual-equipped FJ is purportedly due to the "quick shifter" option.

If you want to see the new FJ in person, it'll be prominently displayed during this year's SEMA show in November.

In the following press release, Toyota also snuck in a $300 increase on its Camry Hybrid, effective October 30th.

It seems that full-size trucks must first curry the favor of Texans before they can court the rest of this country’s citizenry. Dodge introduced its Ram Mega Cab Dually in the state and Ford unleashed its 2007 Expedition on unsuspecting Texans attending this year’s Houston Auto Show. Toyota has eschewed any showmanship and will just build its new XXL Tundra in San Antonio.

Nissan has chosen to combat its less than stellar Titan sales by putting on a show in Bridgeport, Texas in order to demonstrate how tough its full-size pickups and SUVs can be. The Japanese company built an off-road course in a rock quarry recently purchased by the town that contained rock climbs, descents, water obstacles, rugged terrain and more. They then gave 80 journalists keys to the Titan and Frontier pickups and Xterra SUV and stood back… way back. We’ve yet to see any articles emerge from the media event, so we’ll have to wait and see how many journalists the company converted.

[Source: Nissan]