By Toyota enthusiasts and off-road adventure seekers, brace yourselves, as the revival of the beloved FJ Cruiser appears to be on the horizon. While the recent 2023 Japan Mobility Show didn’t bring the FJ Cruiser revival many had hoped for, a recent trademark filing in Japan suggests that Toyota is taking concrete steps towards making this off-road legend a reality. The news of the “Land Cruiser FJ” trademark filing in Japan has sparked excitement in the automotive community. Toyota applied on October 27 under Class 12, which covers “vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.”
While trademark filings don’t guarantee the immediate production of a model, Toyota has dropped subtle hints about the Land Cruiser FJ. In early August, during the unveiling of the 2024 Land Cruiser 250 (known as the Land Cruiser Prado in other markets), sharp-eyed enthusiasts spotted shadowy profiles of two SUVs in the background. The electric Land Cruiser concept, revealed at the Japan Mobility Show, was one of them, while the other, featuring a tailgate-mounted spare tire, remains a mystery.
This isn’t the first time Toyota has hinted at an FJ Cruiser revival. In late 2021, the company unveiled the Compact Cruiser concept, further fueling speculation about a reboot of the iconic model. The FJ Cruiser, which enjoyed a dedicated fan base, bid adieu to the United States after the 2014 model year but continued production for a remarkable 17 years, with the Final Edition for the Middle East being the last variant. It appears that Toyota is looking to expand the Land Cruiser lineup into a family of models, akin to the Crown and Century. Alongside the Land Cruiser 250 and 300 models, an all-electric variant and a smaller derivative seem to be in the cards. The smaller model is expected to offer gasoline and hybrid powertrains, boasting a size similar to the Corolla Cross but with a robust body-on-frame architecture.
While details about the FJ Cruiser revival remain unofficial, it’s clear that Toyota is seriously considering bringing back this iconic nameplate. Other automakers, such as Ford with the Bronco Sport and Mercedes with the “Little G,” have successfully revived iconic off-road names for downsized models, and it seems Toyota is eager to follow suit. Off-road enthusiasts and fans of the FJ Cruiser can keep their fingers crossed for what promises to be an exciting addition to Toyota’s lineup.
