Automotive

Toyota Tj Cruiser concept – roomy SUV or tough van?

Toyota Tj Cruiser concept – roomy SUV or tough van?
The Toyota Tj Cruiser – perhaps eventually coming to a showroom near you
The Toyota Tj Cruiser – perhaps eventually coming to a showroom near you
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Among the Toyota Tj Cruiser's van-like features are front and rear passenger seats that can be reclined totally flat, allowing objects up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long to be stored inside
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Among the Toyota Tj Cruiser's van-like features are front and rear passenger seats that can be reclined totally flat, allowing objects up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long to be stored inside
The Toyota Tj Cruiser seats four
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The Toyota Tj Cruiser seats four
The Toyota Tj Cruiser's large sliding side doors, along with a wide rear opening, make for easy loading and unloading
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The Toyota Tj Cruiser's large sliding side doors, along with a wide rear opening, make for easy loading and unloading
The Toyota Tj Cruiser looks mean and off-roady
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The Toyota Tj Cruiser looks mean and off-roady
Toyota states that the Tj Cruiser would run on a 2.0-liter class engine + hybrid system,
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Toyota states that the Tj Cruiser would run on a 2.0-liter class engine + hybrid system,
The Tj Cruiser would likely utilize the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform
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The Tj Cruiser would likely utilize the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform
The Toyota Tj Cruiser – perhaps eventually coming to a showroom near you
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The Toyota Tj Cruiser – perhaps eventually coming to a showroom near you
SUV-wise, the Toyota Tj Cruiser has a "sturdy suspension realized by large SUV-sized tires," along with the ability to switch between front- and four-wheel drive
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SUV-wise, the Toyota Tj Cruiser has a "sturdy suspension realized by large SUV-sized tires," along with the ability to switch between front- and four-wheel drive
View gallery - 8 images

Is it an SUV or a van? That's what you're supposed to wonder when you first set eyes on Toyota's Tj Cruiser concept. The answer, according to the automaker, is that the four-passenger vehicle "represents the harmonious balance between the roominess of a cargo van and the powerful design of an SUV."

Among the Tj's van-like features are front and rear passenger seats that can be reclined totally flat, allowing objects up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long to be stored inside – these could include surfboards or bikes.

Large sliding side doors, along with a wide rear opening, make for easy loading and unloading of such items. To keep them from shifting around in transit, there are numerous tie-down points on the backs of the seats.

Among the Toyota Tj Cruiser's van-like features are front and rear passenger seats that can be reclined totally flat, allowing objects up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long to be stored inside
Among the Toyota Tj Cruiser's van-like features are front and rear passenger seats that can be reclined totally flat, allowing objects up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long to be stored inside

If you just have a few grocery bags or other smaller things to stow, the seat cushion on the passenger seat behind the driver can be flipped towards the front, creating a dedicated space for such cargo.

SUV-wise, the Tj has a "sturdy suspension realized by large SUV-sized tires," along with the ability to switch between front- and four-wheel drive. It also has a scratch-resistant hood, roof and fenders … plus, of course, it looks mean and off-roady.

The Toyota Tj Cruiser's large sliding side doors, along with a wide rear opening, make for easy loading and unloading
The Toyota Tj Cruiser's large sliding side doors, along with a wide rear opening, make for easy loading and unloading

Not much has been provided in the way of technical details. That said, Toyota does state that the vehicle would run on a 2.0-liter class engine + hybrid system, and that it would likely utilize the company's Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

There's no word yet on whether the Tj will ever make it to production. In the meantime, if you want to at least see the concept vehicle in real life, you can do so when it's on display at the Tokyo Motor Show from Oct. 25th to Nov. 5th.

Oh, and in case you're wondering … "Tj" stands for "toolbox" and "joy."

Source: Toyota

View gallery - 8 images
15 comments
15 comments
Jonathan J Kim
ugly.
navmed
Sign me up for one in silver.
Tom Lee Mullins
I think it has a macho look to it. I like it.
CAVUMark
Sign me up for one, orange with a flat black hood.
vince
Nice if it was electric only and had the Tesla P100D drive train.
Michael Schmitt
Honda Element reborn.
discord
agree, ugly and I want one.
Johannes
Yep - works for me on many levels. It's pointless commenting on the looks - 90% of road vehicles are ugly.
AngryPenguin
@Jonathan J Kim - That's how you know it's good.
vqsteve
Give me "ugly and functional" any day over "pretty and impractical."
"Ugly," though, is in the eyes of the beholder. "Pretty" is really only what marketers have told us is and anything else, by definition, is not.
Ultimate beauty is in functionality. The TJ looks beautiful!
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