The world could soon see the return of the Toyota FJ Cruiser nameplate if a new report comes to light, only this time it’ll be a downsized and more affordable version.
It could either be called the FJ Cruiser or Land Cruiser FJ according to Autocar India, and we’ll likely first get to lay eyes on the new model at its global debut set to take place by the end of 2024.
The publication suggests that the new FJ will be based on the same platform as the affordable Hilux Champ ute, also known as the IMV 0, that was released in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries a few months ago.
Toyota also previewed a bite-size off-roader at the reveal of the new Land Cruiser Prado last year, albeit disguised by shadows, and was initially thought to be an electric concept car.
However, several publications note that the compact concept’s front end looks strikingly similar to the Hilux Champ’s, leading us to believe it’s based on the same architecture.
If the new FJ does see the light of day, the model will likely feature a few more premium appointments than compared to its bare-bones Hilux Champ counterpart.
While we have yet to hear anything regarding the FJ’s production, several publications in Australia report that the ‘Land Cruiser FJ’ nameplate has been trademarked by the local arm of Toyota, suggesting the model’s future availability down under.
