The Toyota TJ Cruiser introduces the SUV van genre

By topgear ,

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The Toyota FJ Cruiser is dead. Long live the Toyota TJ Cruiser. This utterly delightful concept will appear at the Tokyo motor show in a couple of weeks, and it apparently launches a whole new sub-genre.

Yep, it’s “the birth of a new van and SUV fusion genre”. It looks to us more like a chunky remake of the people carrier to us, though there are only four seats. Either way, it’s a slab of utilitarian cool, at least to our eyes. Correct us via the comments box below.

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If you’re curious, TJ stands for ‘Toolbox Joy’. We’re not making that up. The seats fold in all sorts of ways, and the passenger seat can fold completely flat, basically forming a bed. The TJ can swallow entire surfboards and bikes, while there are all manner of hooks and storage boxes. That’s despite it being no longer or wider than a Ford Focus.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor and an automatic gearbox, and there’s a choice of front- or four-wheel drive. Only there isn’t, as it’s just a concept for now. But Toyota’s tone of voice suggests it isn’t something that’ll be scurried away into a collection once the show finishes, and the interior looks a handful of buttons away from being production-ready.

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If you’re not a fan, then don’t worry. Toyota’s having quite a busy Tokyo show and, among other things, it will also show us the Batmobile-like GR HV Sports concept and the new Century limo. Something for everyone, then. But only one car if you really like toolboxes…