Toyota FJ Cruiser Set For Australian Debut In March

Following confirmation in August that it would arrive early next year, Toyota Australia has confirmed that its rugged and retro-styled FJ Cruiser will make its local debut in March.

Making its first Australian appearance at this year's Australian International Motor Show in October, the FJ Cruiser is expected to be a popular option for drivers looking for something different. 

“It’s a very capable off-road vehicle - it’s based on the Prado platform so I think it’ll appeal to a wide demographic,” Toyota Australia's Mike Breen told TMR. “I think it will cross over between urban dwellers and hardcore four-wheel drive people."

“If you look at the US you see them in all walks of life, whether it’s in Los Angeles or the Rocky Mountains.”

Designed to pay homage to the LandCruiser FJ40 of the 1960s, the new FJ Cruiser is built atop the Prado platform and gets the same 178kW petrol V6 engine that drives its less audacious cousin.

Technical specifications have not yet been revealed, although the new FJ's V6 heart is expected to be paired with both automatic and manual transmission, along with full-time and part-time 4WD options.

Despite its origins in the past, the 2011 FJ will include air-conditioning, steering-mounted controls, a reversing camera and an eight-speaker six-CD audio system with Bluetooth among its standard features.

The Motor Report will be at the launch of the new FJ Cruiser next year, so watch this space for our 'first drive' review.