The Toyota FJ Bruiser concept is a customised FJ45 Land Cruiser that goes ‘above and beyond’, in a time when the world seems so on edge and serious (but then, when isn’t this the case?) Toyota has added an injection of much needed fun and light relief into the automotive world.
Unstoppable Boulder Crunching FJ Bruiser
The company has customised a 1966 FJ45 Land Cruiser and created an outrageous, comic book-style ‘FJ Bruiser’.
Toyota has embraced the legacy of the Land Cruiser and created an off-road beast that certainly has an unstoppable feel to it – in part, thanks to Toyota’s use of a modified 715bhp NASCAR Camry V8 engine…
Unstoppable Toyota FJ
Toyota’s Team Manager on the project was Marty Schwerter, who described how the initial project was nicknamed the Unstoppable FJ, which quickly turned to the far catchier FJ Bruiser as the vehicle’s rock-climbing attributes started to manifest.
Firstly, the team behind the FJ Bruiser began by contacting Toyota Racing Development in California’s Costa Mesa, who came up with the idea of the 5.8-litre NASCAR V8 engine.
The intimidating sound of the FJ Bruiser comes from a MagnaFlow side-exit exhaust, all powered via a 3-speed race-built automatic transmission, courtesy of Rancho Drivetrain Engineering.
FJ Tank Mode
The Toyota Bruiser allows four 2WD speeds and four 4WD speeds.
The go-anywhere tagline has been massively assisted by the centre skid plate being replaced by a CAMSO track system to allow the Bruiser to force its way out of any awkward situation, rather like a tank.
The CAMSO system can be controlled from within by the driver, allowing ‘tank mode’ to kick in at just the push of a button.
Outside
As for the exterior looks of the FJ Bruiser, there’s an inevitable hint of custom hotrod about it, with massive raised 20-inch Method Beadlock wheels and 42-inch BF Goodrich tyres, all with the inevitable huge clearance.
Suspension comes from tough looking Fox shocks and Eibach springs.
The Toyota team also created a tube chassis and hefty roll cage as the basis for the vehicle.
This new, more rigid frame then had the FJ45 panels placed around it, creating the classic and timeless look of the attractive FJ45 Land Cruiser in a striking metallic turquoise colour.
Toyota Heritage Interior
The interior has not been neglected, with Complete Customs collaborating with the Toyota team to create an interior that complements the original FJ45 Land Cruiser.
MOMO Daytona Evo seats were customised in a plaid finish to complement the exterior – this is something that pays homage to the original FJ45 plaid bench seat.
A nice touch is a period piece; a 1968 Jackie Stewart championship steering wheel.
Not that the Toyota FJ Bruiser is required to have a reason for existing, but Toyota is indeed celebrating the return of the Toyota Land Cruiser to US shores; and if the Bruiser doesn’t make you curious, then surely nothing will.
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