by Brad Anderson
- Toyota will build the Land Cruiser FJ in Thailand, selling it in Asia, Middle East, and Latin America.
- Underpinning the new model is Toyota’s familiar IMV platform with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder.
- The Toyota FJ Cruiser was killed off in America back in 2014, but survived to 2022 in some markets.
After years of waiting, Toyota has released an all-new version of the popular FJ Cruiser, dubbed the Land Cruiser FJ. The new model, recently premiering in prototype guise ahead of the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, has a similarly rugged design to the full-sized Land Cruisers and has all the hallmarks of a sales hit. Unfortunately, it won’t be sold in all markets.
Toyota has confirmed the new Land Cruiser FJ will be built in Thailand and will not be exported to the United States or Europe.
Not selling the new FJ in America doesn’t come as a big shock, as the US already misses out on the classic Land Cruiser 70 Series and modern 300 Series models sold in other markets alongside the 250 Series, such as in Australia.
Read: Toyota’s New Land Cruiser FJ Looks Retro Enough To Steal Your Heart
In addition, Thai imports into the United States are hit with 19 percent tariffs, so even if Toyota wanted to bring it into the US, it would have to jack up the price significantly.
“There are no plans for America or Europe,” chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama told Auto News during the unveiling of the new FJ. “The start point for this is the global South.” Among the key markets being targeted by Toyota include Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
In a separate statement to Carscoops, Toyota said, “There are currently no plans to bring this vehicle to the North American market.”
What’s There to Get Excited About?
Underpinning the new FJ is an updated version of the existing IMV platform and it will be sold exclusively with Toyota’s familiar 2.7-liter 2TR-FE naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine.
This engine delivers 161 hp and 181 lb-ft (246 Nm) of torque and is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission and a part-time four-wheel drive system.
Although the FJ is noticeably smaller than the 250 and 300 Series Land Cruisers, it still tips the scales at around 1,900 kg (4,188 lbs), or about 300 kg (661 lbs) less than the 250. Some design elements appear to have been inspired by the Compact Cruiser EV concept that was unveiled back in 2021.
