Since its installment, the FJ Cruiser never managed to become the bestselling or even a slow-selling model. Actually, this car has never been in high demand. That’s why it was withdrawn from U.S. market without last hurrah. The last attempt with Trails Team Edition again wasn’t successful and just like with previous versions it was far from satisfying for the company. Pretty much final sighting of FJ Cruiser was in August before it was removed from Toyota Australia lineup without a successor in plans. Instead, we could find ourselves with a replacement model in shape of FT-4X Concept. This name was registered by Toyota and according to some rumors FJ Cruiser could be replaced with this model quite soon.
FT-4X Origins
Letters FT in the name means ‘Future Toyota’ so at first this car would be presented as a concept vehicle. If you are wondering where we are getting drawing of this, it is simple. FT-86 Concept was turned into Toyota 86, and the FT-1 Concept is on a track to be introduced as the new Supra. So if two plus two is four, then we can logically assume that FT-4X is in line to replace FJ Cruiser.
So even if everything from above turns out to be true it’s not going to happen anytime soon. Trademark registration happened just a week ago so it will take time for FT-4X to reach Concept stage and later on production lines. Despite our high hopes, it is possible that something like this never happens, as sometimes companies buy trademarks only to protect them or to temper with other companies plans.
Other reasons why we believe in the introduction of FT-4X concept and later on the vehicle based on it is that Toyota needs a real off-road vehicle to compete with the upcoming Wrangler from Jeep and Ford’s Bronco. For this to happen Toyota will have to leave behind the old-styled design of the FJ Cruiser. The only thing that made it unique was suicide doors that are a rarity among this kind of off-road models. The new platform will also be needed because old one from Land Cruiser Prado that was used on FJ obviously didn’t do any favors to that model in terms of sales.
Anyway, FJ Cruiser is no more so all that it remains is to sit still and wait for FT-4X Concept to become a reality.
