If you happen to swing by Toyota’s 2018 LA Auto Show
stand anytime between now and December 9th, you’ll find that it’s not all about
the facelifted Prius or the 2020 four-door Corolla Hybrid. In fact, you’re going to stumble onto
something called the TJ Cruiser, which is a concept vehicle whose initials
stand for ‘Toolbox’ and ‘Joy’, believe it or not. As for ‘Cruiser’, that term
is of course a very established one within Toyota’s automotive portfolio.
When Toyota first presented the TJ Cruiser Concept,
they stated that it was designed “for drivers with lifestyles where work and
play dovetail seamlessly.” It has the roominess of a cargo van and the rugged
design of a boxy SUV.
It actually looks so “butch”, it sort of reminds us
of the Knight XV, which is a Ford 550 Super Duty-based armored vehicle. Alas, here are the types of
features it has: special protective coating on the hood, roof and fenders, a
sturdy suspension system, 20-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, sliding rear doors, large load area, deck boards, tie-down points, plus a basic
yet modern interior.
The dashboard almost looks like it belongs on some
type of futuristic Wrangler, which fans of the “genre” will certainly
appreciate. It also looks like something off a Citroen C4 Cactus, but let’s not
nitpick too much.
The Japanese automaker based the TJ Cruiser Concept
around its Toyota New Global Architecture, or TNGA, and fitted it with a
2.0-liter hybrid powertrain, although full specs remain undisclosed.
