FJ CRUISER - Everything You Need to Know | Up to Speed

Summary

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a rugged off-road vehicle with a storied past, tracing its roots to the military's need for a versatile 4x4 during World War II. Evolving from the AK Series to the iconic FJ-40, the Cruiser boasts a utilitarian design and impressive off-road capabilities. Initially a concept car, the FJ Cruiser's popularity led to production, featuring a 4-liter V6 engine and distinctive retro aesthetics. Despite discontinuation in 2014 due to declining sales, the FJ Cruiser remains a cult favorite with strong resale value, appealing to those who appreciate its go-anywhere attitude and unique style.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a 'go anywhere, do anything' vehicle that is both rugged and reliable, offering a unique alternative to Jeeps and Land Rovers.
• 🇯🇵 Originating from Japan, the FJ Cruiser is designed to fit in various environments, from military outposts to suburban driveways.
• 🎥 The video is sponsored by Nos Energy Drink, which is portrayed as a superior energy drink that empowers the consumer to take on various challenges.
• 🛠 The FJ Cruiser's lineage traces back to World War II, where Toyota was tasked with creating a better version of the Willys Jeep, leading to the development of the AK Series.
• 🏁 The Toyota Jeep BJ, which later became the Land Cruiser, was developed during the Korean War, showcasing Toyota's growing expertise in all-terrain vehicles.
• 🔧 The second-generation Land Cruiser introduced in 1955 featured a redesigned engine known for its torque, reliability, and low RPM operation.
• 🌏 The iconic FJ-40 model helped establish Toyota as a global brand, known for its ability to conquer various terrains and its long production run of 40 years.
• 🚀 The new FJ Cruiser began as a concept vehicle (XJ-10) that was well-received at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, leading to its production against initial plans.
• 🔧 The 2007 FJ Cruiser was based on a stretched Land Cruiser Prado frame and powered by a reliable 4-liter V6 engine, offering both automatic and manual transmission options.
• 🛠 The FJ Cruiser was designed with utilitarianism in mind, featuring exceptional off-road capabilities and distinctive exterior and interior design elements.
• 🔄 The vehicle's off-road prowess includes a high approach and departure angle, deep water fording ability, and innovative features like the A-Track system.
• 🎨 The FJ Cruiser offers extensive customization options, with a TRD version and potential aftermarket modifications, appealing to off-road enthusiasts.
• 📉 Despite strong initial sales, the FJ Cruiser's production was discontinued in 2014 due to declining sales volumes, but it maintains a strong resale value.

Q & A

What is the Toyota FJ Cruiser known for?

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is known for its go-anywhere, do-anything attitude, being a super capable and reliable off-road vehicle that fits in various settings from military outposts to suburban driveways.

What is the significance of the Nos Energy Drink in the script?

Nos Energy Drink is mentioned as a partner of the show, providing energy to the host and being humorously compared to the capabilities of the FJ Cruiser.

What was the original purpose of the FJ Cruiser's predecessors?

The FJ Cruiser's predecessors, like the AK Series and the Toyota Jeep BJ, were originally created for military use during World War II and the Korean War.

How did the Toyota FJ Cruiser's design evolve from its military origins?

The Toyota FJ Cruiser evolved from military vehicles to a more utilitarian and off-road focused design, with elements inspired by the iconic FJ-40 Land Cruiser.

What engine does the FJ Cruiser use?

The FJ Cruiser uses a bulletproof 1 GR-FE engine, an aluminum 4-liter V6 engine that produces 239 horsepower, later upgraded with VVT-I for an additional 20 horsepower.

What unique feature does the FJ Cruiser have in terms of its windshield?

The FJ Cruiser has a flat, squat windshield similar to the FJ-40, which requires three front windshield wipers due to its design.

What is special about the doors of the FJ Cruiser?

The FJ Cruiser features hidden doors that open 90 degrees, making it easier to load and remove the quick-release seats, although this design can cause issues when both front and back passengers exit simultaneously.

What customization options were available for the FJ Cruiser?

The FJ Cruiser offered a TRD version with enhancements like a catback exhaust, Bilstein shocks, rock rails, and different wheels and tires. Additionally, customers could customize their FJ Cruiser with aftermarket parts like winches, light bars, and brush guards.

Why did Toyota discontinue the FJ Cruiser?

Toyota discontinued the FJ Cruiser in 2014 due to declining sales, as it averaged only 14,000 sales a year and they did not want to carry a vehicle with such low sales in their lineup.

What is ironic about the FJ Cruiser's discontinuation?

The irony is that despite being discontinued, the FJ Cruiser maintains its resale value better than almost any other vehicle in America.

What was the initial concept behind the FJ Cruiser's design?

The initial concept behind the FJ Cruiser's design was the RYU (Rugged Youth Utility) design team's idea, which aimed to create a vehicle that was utilitarian, lightweight, and had a strong off-road capability, reminiscent of the FJ-40 Land Cruiser.

Outlines

00:00

🚜 Introduction to the Toyota FJ Cruiser

The script kicks off with a dramatic introduction to the Toyota FJ Cruiser, a rugged and reliable off-road vehicle that has become a staple from military outposts to suburban driveways. It highlights the FJ Cruiser's unmatched go-anywhere, do-anything attitude and gives a shout-out to the sponsor, Nos Energy Drink. The video then delves into the history of Toyota's off-road vehicles, starting with the Willys Jeep and the AK Series, and moving on to the creation of the Toyota Jeep BJ, which later became the iconic Land Cruiser. The FJ-40, in particular, is celebrated for its global impact and long production run, with Toyota still producing replacement parts today.

05:03

🏎️ The Evolution of the FJ Cruiser

This paragraph delves into the development of the FJ Cruiser, starting as a concept vehicle (XJ-10) that captured the public's imagination at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show. The script humorously critiques Toyota's conservative approach to vehicle design during the mid-2000s, which lacked the excitement of previous models like the Supra and Celica. Despite initial plans not to produce the FJ concept, Toyota was compelled by the overwhelmingly positive reception to fast-track its production. Chief engineer Akio Nishimura managed to develop the FJ Cruiser for showrooms in an unprecedented three years. The 2007 model was based on the Land Cruiser Prado frame and featured a robust 4-liter V6 engine, with options for either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission and 2 or 4-wheel drive. The FJ Cruiser was designed with utilitarianism and off-road capability in mind, boasting impressive angles and water fording abilities, along with unique design elements like the three-front windshield wipers and the 'Toyota' spelled out on the grill.

10:04

🛠️ Customization and Legacy of the FJ Cruiser

The final paragraph discusses the customization options available for the FJ Cruiser, including a TRD version and the possibility of local dealers transforming the vehicle into an 'FJ Crawler' with additional off-roading features. The script also mentions special edition models with unique colors and the strong resale value of the FJ Cruiser, which maintains better than almost any other vehicle in America. Despite strong initial sales, the FJ Cruiser's production was discontinued in 2014 due to declining sales figures. The video concludes with a tongue-in-cheek suggestion to invest in FJ Cruisers for their potential financial return and a light-hearted moment involving a dog and its owner.

Keywords

💡FJ Cruiser

The FJ Cruiser is a model of Toyota's off-road vehicle, known for its ruggedness and utility. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the vehicle's history, design, and capabilities. The script mentions the FJ Cruiser's lineage from military vehicles to a modern off-roader that fits various environments, highlighting its versatility and reliability.

💡Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by Toyota, renowned for their off-road prowess and durability. In the script, the Land Cruiser is mentioned as the evolution of the FJ series, emphasizing the historical significance and the transformation of Toyota's off-road vehicles over time.

💡4x4

4x4, or four-wheel drive, refers to a vehicle that can transmit power to all four wheels simultaneously. The script discusses the 4x4 capabilities of the FJ Cruiser, showcasing its off-road performance and the vehicle's ability to handle various terrains, which is a key aspect of the video's focus on off-road vehicles.

💡Off-road capability

Off-road capability refers to a vehicle's ability to operate effectively on surfaces other than paved roads. The script highlights the FJ Cruiser's off-road capability through its design features and performance specifications, such as its approach and departure angles, and water fording ability, which are crucial for understanding the vehicle's utility in off-road situations.

💡Utilitarian

Utilitarian describes something designed for practical rather than aesthetic purposes. The script uses this term to describe the FJ Cruiser's design philosophy, focusing on functionality and practicality over style. This is exemplified by the vehicle's durable construction and features that prioritize off-road performance.

💡Concept vehicle

A concept vehicle is a car made to showcase innovative design and new technology, typically for promotional purposes. The script mentions the FJ Cruiser as originating from a concept vehicle, the XJ-10, which was initially not intended for production but eventually became a reality due to positive public reception.

💡Nos Energy Drink

Nos Energy Drink is a brand of energy drink mentioned in the script as a sponsor of the video. It is used as a humorous element to energize the host and is a part of the video's narrative to acknowledge sponsorship and create a casual tone.

💡Willys Jeep

The Willys Jeep is an early model of the Jeep vehicle used extensively by the U.S. military during World War II. The script refers to the Willys Jeep as the inspiration for Toyota's development of their own military vehicles, the AK Series, which eventually led to the creation of the Land Cruiser and FJ Cruiser.

💡Toyota Jeep BJ

The Toyota Jeep BJ is a vehicle developed by Toyota during the Korean War, based on the Willys Jeep but with improvements. The script explains that this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser, highlighting Toyota's history of building rugged, reliable off-road vehicles for military use.

💡FJ-40

The FJ-40 is a specific model within the Land Cruiser series, known for its iconic status and long production run. The script discusses the FJ-40 as a turning point for Toyota, making them a global brand and setting the stage for the modern FJ Cruiser's design and capabilities.

💡Customization

Customization refers to the process of modifying a product to meet specific needs or preferences. The script touches on the FJ Cruiser's potential for customization, offering examples such as TRD versions and aftermarket parts, which allow owners to enhance their vehicle's off-road performance and appearance.

Highlights

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a super capable and reliable off-road vehicle, offering a go-anywhere, do-anything attitude.

Sponsored by Nos Energy Drink, the video provides a shout out to the brand and a humorous take on energy drinks.

The FJ Cruiser's origins trace back to World War II, where Toyota was tasked with improving on the Willys Jeep.

The Toyota Jeep BJ, later named Land Cruiser, was created for the U.S. Military during the Korean War, featuring a larger size and faster speed.

Toyota's experience with military vehicles contributed to the development of all-terrain vehicles and the iconic FJ-40.

The FJ-40's success helped establish Toyota as a global brand and is still supported with new replacement parts today.

The new FJ Cruiser began as a concept vehicle, the XJ-10, which was well-received at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.

Modern Land Cruisers had become large and luxurious, whereas the FJ Cruiser aimed to capture the utilitarian spirit of the FJ-40.

The FJ Cruiser's design, code-named RYU, was intended to appeal to younger buyers with its rugged and youthful utility.

Despite initial plans not to produce the FJ concept, positive reception led to a fast-tracked production timeline.

Chief engineer Akio Nishimura successfully developed the FJ Cruiser for production in an unusually short 3 years.

The 2007 FJ Cruiser featured a 4-liter V6 engine and was available in both automatic and manual transmission options.

The FJ Cruiser's off-road capabilities were considered the best in Toyota's lineup, with a high approach and departure angle and water fording ability.

Unique design elements like the three-front windshield wipers and the hidden doors contributed to the FJ Cruiser's distinctive look.

The interior of the FJ Cruiser was made of waterproof plastic for easy cleaning and featured dummy switches for aftermarket customization.

Toyota offered a TRD version of the FJ Cruiser with additional off-road enhancements and accessories.

Despite strong initial sales, the FJ Cruiser was discontinued in 2014 due to declining sales figures.

The FJ Cruiser is known for its excellent resale value, making it a smart investment for those looking to buy and sell used vehicles.

Transcripts

[car engine revving]

- You want a super capable dead nuts, reliable froader

but Jeeps just ain't your thing,

and Land Rovers break down to much gosh darn dangin much?

[car crashing]

From mid-century military outposts,

to modern suburban driveways,

this rough and tumble froader

from the land of the rising sun

fits in just about err'where.

Few competitors can match its

go anywhere, do anything attitude.

This is everything you need to know

to get up to speed on the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

[electronic music]

Before we get into the show,

I just wanna give a big old shout out to our partners

over at Nos Energy Drink.

Our editors thank you.

This puppy, he thanks you.

[can opens] [slurping]

Ahh, yeah.

Nos Energy Drink gives me that [siren].

Other energy drinks are like,

oh, well, is that it,

where'd all my energy go?

But Nos Energy Drink is like

[whooping]

I can do that!

You wanna rebuild your engine?

No problem!

You wanna get back together with the ex-girlfriend?

[whistles]

Sorry but, that's probably not gonna happen.

You can still enjoy an ice cold Nos Energy Drink though.

[slurps]

Ahh.

Now back to the story.

The FJ helped propel- fitness water-

Toyota to the top and made them a household name

around the world.

- FJ, FJ,

FJ, FJ.

- Nowadays you see FJ's cranking tunes

and blasting dunes.

But originally, they were made for war.

And it all started with a Willy and a BJ.

During World War II the Japanese military

got their hands on the Willys Jeep and tasked Toyota

with making a better version of the lightweight,

go anywhere vehicle of the U.S. Military.

Toyota created the AK Series

and they were impressive little froaders.

But they didn't turn the tides of battle

so Japan ultimately lost the war.

This is why they lost the war, and the only reason

that they lost the war, Donut Fact.

Toyota got another chance to update the AK

a few years later in the Korean War.

This time, it was the U.S. Military

who ordered the company to build them some Jeeps.

So, they took what they learned from the Willys

and the AK and gave the U.S.

a BJ.

They created a vehicle known as the Toyota Jeep BJ,

which technical director, Hanji Umehara, later named

the Land Cruiser.

The BJ was bigger than the Willys

and faster thanks to a 3.4 liter inline 6 power plant.

While Toyota was 0 for 2 in the military campaigns,

they learned a crap-ton about building all-terrain vehicles.

In 1955, Toyota released the second-gen Land Cruiser

which featured a fully redesigned

3.9 liter, inline 6,

F-series engine.

These were known for their high amount of torque

and low RPM, massive cast iron blocks and heads

and crazy good reliability.

And in 1960 it was this engine that gave birth

to one of the most iconic Toyotas of all time,

the FJ-40.

Now the FJ-40 not only conquered

the jungles, mountains, and deserts of the world,

it literally made Toyota

a global brand.

[barks]

Sorry excuse me guys.

What's up?

Are you bored?

Yeah, you wanna go home?

Okay.

This is our editor Colby's dog and he's done. [laughs]

This is an easy time to remind you guys

to hit that like button and hit that subscribe button.

It's the only way that we can tell

if we're doing a good job.

Uh also if you don't, I'll eat this dog.

Back to the story.

In fact, the FJ-40 was so popular

that they sold them for 40 years.

And Toyota, till this day, still makes

new replacement parts for the FJ-40.

The FJ-40 has a really, really cool story.

We actually made another video about it.

It's the Land Cruiser.

So, if the FJ eventually turned into the Land Cruiser,

we know today, where did the new FJ Cruiser come from?

Well friends, it started out as a concept

that was never meant to be built.

The new FJ Cruiser AK XJ-10

made its de-but as a concept only vehicle

during the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.

And the voodoo blue retro off-roader quickly cast a spell

on those longing for the good ol' days.

While modern Land Cruisers were still super badass off-road,

[engine roaring]

they'd become 3-row behemoth

made for transporting drug lords through South America,

war lords through Africa,

and soccer moms to H&M at the mall.

The old school Land Cruisers like the iconic FJ-40

were way more utilitarian.

The torque-y, lightweight vehicles could go almost anywhere

and really gave Jeep, their main competitor,

a run for their money.

[engine roaring]

Plus, they look freaking cool

which young people loved back then.

I might be 34 but I'm just like you kids.

The FJ concept was born out of the internally labeled

RYU, or rugged youth utility, design team.

[sighs]

Because nothing gets the kids going

like an internal design code.

- What do they want, what do they want?

- I don't know.

Let's make a big old team of old guys to figure it out.

- Oh yeah, that sounds good.

Let's get a big old team of old guys,

they can figure out what the kids want.

[laughs]

- The mid-2000s were a bingo haul beige

group of years for Toyota.

Their business model had gone

totally conservative and boring.

They got rid of all the small, fun enthusiast cars

like the Supra and the Celica.

[Rap Music]

And Toyota had no plans to actually produce the FJ concept,

they just wanted people to think that they were trying.

To their surprise, the reception for both

the media and the general public

was so overwhelmingly positive,

that they had to go full Oprah on it-

- You get a car, you get a car,

you get a car, you get a car.

- and fast track the FJ into production.

So with no production plan in place,

chief engineer, Akio Nishimura,

was given the almost impossible task of developing

an FJ that could roll into show rooms in just 3 years.

Normally, car development takes anywhere

from like 7 to 11 years.

And even though he was like, this is crazy,

this is crazy, this is crazy, the dude made it happen,

so props for that.

The 2007 model year FJ was based on

a stretched Land Cruiser Prado box frame.

It was powered by the bulletproof 1 GR-FE engine,

which was an aluminum 4-liter V6, good for 239 horsepowers.

The engine was later upgraded with VVT-I

which gave it an additional,

respectable, 20 horsepowers.

[engine roaring]

This was paired with your choice of

a 5-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual.

It was offered in either 2 or 4-wheel drive option.

[laughing]

But it wasn't until you got past

the drivetrain and underpinnings

that the real beauty of the FJ came out.

First and foremost, it was designed to be

utilitarian like the FJ-40 Land Cruisers of the '60s.

This was achieved in 2 ways:

The first being, tremendous off-road capability.

[engine roaring]

And the second being,

unusual exterior and interior design elements.

Toyota claimed that the 4x4 version,

which was the one that everybody bought,

was the most capable off-road vehicle in their lineup.

And they have a pretty dec' off-road lineup.

It can drive through water up to 27.5 inches.

It had an approach angle of 34 degrees,

departure angle of 30 degrees,

and boy band angle of 98 degrees.

FJ achieved its off-road capability by using a high mounted,

double wishbone, front suspension, a 4-link rear suspension,

with a lateral rod, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar

that provided over 9 inches of travel.

They also mounted the air intake box

on top of the engine for extra breathing room,

and gave the front and rear bumpers

the high-water pants look to minimize

the bumper being ripped off.

[cracking]

The FJ also came with Toyota's A-Track system,

rest in peace, that applied braking to wheels

that have lost traction, mimicking the performance

of a locking diff without the binding

that can make steering difficult

in normal locking diff setups.

Genius, I love Toyota for stuff like this.

One of the unusual exterior design elements

is the windshield.

It's flat, squat, like Reggie, that you met before.

You wouldn't want me to eat this dog would you?

You're not sick, are you?

And it's at an angle similar to its namesake FJ-40.

Because of this, it had to have 3 front windshield wipers.

The downside to the cool looking windshield, however,

is that it's loud and it breaks

because it doesn't deflect wind or road debris,

which is like, in my understanding,

the main 2 jobs of a windshield.

Also like the FJ-40 instead of having the Toyota emblem

on the grill, they actually spelled out Toyota.

T-O-I-Y-A-T-D-A,

Toyota.

Another exterior design element is the hidden doors,

which open 90 degrees to make it easier

to load and remove the quick-release seats.

Though this suicide door design also meant

that if the person in the front seat got out

at the same time as the person in the back seat,

they would be trapped against the parked car next to them.

The doors also make it easier to hose down the interior

and I mean that quite literally.

The inside of the car was made of waterproof plastic

so it could be easily cleaned

and also easily be manufactured.

Another unusual interior design element would be

all the dummy switches.

Normally blank switches are bad

but in the case of the FJ, they're pretty cool.

In a rare move, Toyota gave the off-road aftermarket

early access to the FJ so that when it launched,

customers could immediately find aftermarket parts

like winches, light bars, and brush guards

to turn their Bruce Banner Toyotas

into Incredible Hulk off-roaders.

Which brings me to our next subject,

customization.

The company offered a TRD version,

which included a catback exhaust, Bilstein shocks,

rock rails, and cooler wheels and tires.

And in some cases, a different mechanical locking diff

or you can have your local dealer turn your cruiser

into an FJ Crawler

with brush guards, skid plates, lift kits, and more

from the legendary Australian off-roading company, ARB.

The Toyota-issued trail team special edition models

featured unique colors for each year.

And personally I am quite partial to 2012's radiant red.

[Singing] Radiant red.

The FJ Cruiser is a great truck

and Toyota sold over 100,000 of them in the first 2 years

but as sales tapered off dramatically,

Toyota decided they didn't want to carry a car

in their lineup that only averaged 14,000 sales a year.

So in 2014, they quit selling it.

And the irony is, that the FJ Cruiser

maintains its resale value

better than almost any other vehicle in America.

So if you learn anything from this video,

I hope that it's you should take all of your money,

drop out of college, and buy a ton of FJ Cruisers.

Cause there's gold in the mountains.

We all gon get rich, we all gon get rich.

Ooh, that ones fancy.

This guy, is this guy's brother.

This guy could be their brother

but he's not their brother, but he's just as a handsome,

if not more handsome than the brothers.

That guy's not that attractive,

well he's definitely handsome than the littler brother,

but equally, if not more handsome than the bigger,

more handsome brother.

[whispers] I love you.