The all-new 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser is on sale and turning heads wherever it travels.

The FJ Cruiser offers youthful, contemporary styling, is fun to drive, and employs the same state-of-the-art comfort, power, economy, safety and convenience found in the Toyota Land Cruiser four-door sport utility. The FJ Cruiser takes it styling cues from the famous Toyota FJ40 4X4 utility vehicle that sold in the US from 1960 to 1983. The FJ 40 was sold world-wide and was used as the safari and expedition choice of many adventure seekers and filmmakers.

Design features that hint at the FJ40 are its upright windshield pillars, front grille, which ties its two, round, 5in. headlights together in much the same way the FJ40's headlights were integrated; its hood and fender contours; and a rear-mounted and exposed full-size spare tire with off-center license-plate mounting location. Additionally, the FJ Cruiser employs a while roof cap and wrap-around rear side windows, which were FJ40 signatures.

The FJ Cruiser uses two main doors-one per side-but unlike anything ever seen on an FJ40. It also uses two access doors that open 90-degrees in clamshell fashion for easy rear-seat entry or exit. Additionally, a swing-up glass hatch is incorporated into the side-hinged rear door. This opens independently of the rear door and helps accommodate longer items such as lumber or surfboards while keeping the rear door closed.

Wheel arches are angular and open to provide maximum clearance for the FJ Cruiser's large 32in. tires at full suspension deflection. The arches are edged by flexible fender flares that resist damage during vigorous off-road travels, and also resist damage from the doors of the vehicles beside which the FJ Cruiser might find itself parked during urban and suburban expeditions. Two tow hoods up front and one in the rear are useful when you need to pull another vehicle out of trouble.

The FJ Cruiser's tough, wide stance is based around a frame and front-and-rear suspension systems adapted from those found on Toyota Land Cruiser. The frame is a boxed steel ladder-braced unit to which is mounted the FJ Cruiser's welded steel body. The independent front suspension, which offers a generous a 7.87in. of wheel travel for outstanding suspension articulation, is via double wishbones, the geometry of which is adapted for superior road feel, ride comfort and to 'step-over' large obstacles. Tubular shock absorbers and an anti-sway bar are also fitted up front. A solid rear axle using a four-link coil-spring suspension system with a lateral rod, tubular shock absorbers and an anti-sway bar is employed. This system provides 9.1in. of wheel travel. The ride is smooth when traveling over pavement at speed, and when off-road the shocks and springs work together to ease the bumps when traveling over rutted and potted roads.

All 4X2 FJ Cruisers come standard with a virtual automatic limited-slip differential, provided and operated by an advanced traction-control system to enhance traction of both rear wheels in slippery driving conditions. An electronic locking rear differential with an 8in. ring gear is available. The ring gear in the front differential of the 4X4 FJ Cruiser also measure 8in. The FJ Cruiser quickly stops with powerful 4-wheel vented discs. Up front are big 12.6in. discs clamped with dual-piston calipers, and 12.3in. discs clamped with single-piston calipers. Precise steering is provides by a variable-ratio, hydraulically assisted rack & pinion steering system giving you a very good feel for the road and quick response to your inputs.

The FJ Cruiser rides on big 17X8in. steel wheels or optional six-spoke aluminum wheels, each wrapped with 265/70R17in. mud/snow tires. With the FJ Cruiser's standard 32in. ties, ground clearance is a good 9.6in., 8.7in. for the 4X2. Approach and departure angles are 34-degrees/30-degrees for the 4X4 FJ Cruiser, and 32/29 for the 4X2 version. Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 5,330lbs. for the 4X2 and 5,570lbs. for the 4X4, maximum towing capacity with the optional Class Four receiver hitch is 5,000lbs.

The FJ Cruiser is powered by a high-compression 4.0 liter V6 engine with, a 24-valve, DOHC VVT-i unit that produces 239hp and 278lb.ft. of torque-nearly double the numbers produced by the six-cylinder engine of the FJ40. This engine feature several special engineering touches to make it more efficient, powerful and smooth. These include Toyota's variable-valve-timing with intelligence system, special lightweight pistons with resin-coated skirts to help reduce friction and noise, a two-stage, variable-length intake manifold, which improves mid-range to high-speed performance, newly designed 12-orifice fuel injectors, Toyota's Direct Injection System which eliminates the distributor and its associated wiring, and a lightweight electronic throttle. EPA lists the FJ Cruiser's city/highway fuel-economy ratings at 18/22mpg (4X2) and 17/21mpg (4X4) automatic.

The quietness of the engine's operation comes in part because of special sound-absorbing material present under the engine cover. Its pleasing exhaust note, meanwhile, is shaped by a specially designed exhaust system that provides for efficient elimination of exhaust gases with minimal back pressure.

A choice between an electronically shifted 5-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual transmission is available for 4X4 models, while the 4X2 model comes only with a 5-speed automatic. The automatic features Artificial Intelligence Shift Control, a system that automatically varies the transmission's shifting pattern based on road conditions and your driving intent to provide optimal up-and down-shifting. It also employs Toyota 's Flex Lock-Up Control, which is added to the basic locking torque converter. Flex Lock-Up allows the clutch in the torque converter to maintain a half-engaged position enhancing fuel efficiency and increasing the lock-up clutch's operation range. This transmission is shifted via a sporty console-mounted, gate-type shifter lever. In addition to being displayed on the shifter gate, shifter position also is displayed in the instrument panel. The 6-speed manual transmission is designed for lightness and shifting ease. It is very smooth and firmly engages each gear.

The two-speed transfer case used in the 4X4 FJ Cruiser is the essential link that routes power from the engine through the transmission and to the front and rear axles. In standard-transmission models, it is the same full-time four-wheel-drive transfer case used in the V6-poswered 4X4 4Runner. This transfer case features a Torsen limited-slip center differential with a locking feature and distributes the engine's power 40% front and 60% rear in most driving conditions. It changes this distribution % as needed, based on steering angle and wheel slippage. When locked, it distributes power, front to rear, on a 50/50 basis. The system helps make the FJ Cruiser less prone to tire slippage caused by changes in road conditions. With automatic transmission models, JF Cruiser gets a part-time transfer case, two-wheel drive, four-wheel high and four-wheel low. This is what you need to tackle any off-road trail and making the FJ Cruiser a real off-road warrior on any of the world's continents.

Keeping you comfortable behind the wheel is an interior featuring a dashboard that is bordered by upper and lower tubular forms, which frame rectangular-shaped flat panels. All control knobs are large enough for easy grip, even when wearing gloves, and switches for critical functions, including the AC/Heater, audio controls and the optional locking rear differential, are mounted in the center dash panel within easy reach. With the optional upgrade packages, the front interior door panels are color-keyed to the exterior color.

A standard full gauge cluster features a large 120mph speedometer, 7,000rpm tachometer and smaller gauges for fuel, engine coolant temperature and amps. Bright LED lights warn of system or safety failures. An oil maintenance indicator light notifies you when the FJ Cruiser's engine oil is due to be changed.

Front bucket seats are very comfortable and fully adaptable 8-ways for any driver and four-ways for the passenger. the center console features a cupholder up front and one behind you. There is also a very large (8X8in.) open storage bin behind the cupholder and another storage bin with a pop-up cover on the dashboard shelf in front of the driver..

The rear bench seat is split 60/40, with folding (removable) bottom, and back cushions that convert to a nearly flat cargo floor. Because the FJ Cruiser is optimized for dustry, muddy driving environments, easy cleaning and maintenance are important elements to its interior. Seating materials are not only water-repellant, but also provide excellent ventilation. Seats are covered with a fabric backed by a special breathable resin coating to enhance the material's ability to shed liquids so that seats can easily be wiped down and cleaned. Even the stitched seams of the seat covers are treated with sealant to prevent liquids from penetrating the seams. Also as an aid to easy cleaning, the FJ Cruiser's floor surfaces are covered with an attractive gray rubber-like material. The rear cargo area is equipped with cargo-net hooks, mulit-purpose grocery-bag hooks and sturdy, floor-mounted cargo tie-down anchor points. An AC 115-volt 100/400-wat accessory connector is available.

Both 4X2 and 4X4 FJ Cruisers comes standard with 17in. black steel wheels, A/C, power windows/door locks, black water-resistant seats, a tilt steering wheel, grab handles above each door and on the windshield pillars, four cup holders and two bottle holders, rear-window defogger, engine, transfer-case and fuel-tank skid plates, rear-door mounted full-size spare tire, tow hooks front/rear and mudguards.

For the safety of you and your passengers, the FJ Cruiser comes standard with front/rear crush zones, steel beams in the front doors, dual-stage front driver and passenger advanced airbags, 3-point safety belts for all 5-seats, and LATCH anchors for child seats. Tow rows of side-curtain airbags, as well as driver and front seat mounted side airbags are optional. As with all Toyota sport utility vehicles, the FJ Cruiser is equipped with Toyota 's Star Safety System which includes Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist enhancements.

A number of interesting features mark the FJ Cruiser. Instead of using the usual pair of front windshield wipers arms, the FJ Cruiser uses three wiper arms to provide near complete coverage of the vehicle's wide windshield, plus diffusion-type nozzles in the washing assembly to provide superior washing performance.

The FJ Cruiser is also equipped with a pair of NXT SurfaceSound transducers, which convert the vehicle's ceiling into a speaker diaphragm. It marks the first time that this technology has been used in a motor vehicle. The result complements the conventional speakers elsewhere in the vehicle, creating a broad, omni-directional dispersion of sound. Three audio systems are available. An AM-FM-CD system with six speakers is standard. A premium audio FJammer AM-FM eight-speaker system is available, as is the same FJammer premium audio system with a ninth speaker-a 7.9in. subwoofer, powered by its own dedicated amplifier, incorporated into the right-rear panel of the rear cargo compartment. An on/off switch for the subwoofer is located in the dash's lower-center switch cluster. An auxiliary jack also is located in the lower-center switch cluster to provide input for portable audio devices-ie., MP3-like devices-and a 12-volt DC accessory socket is provided for those devices.

Consumers can personalize the JF Cruiser by selecting one of the following packages: a convenience package includes keyless entry, cruise-control, power side-view mirrors with image lights, daytime running lights, privacy glass, rear window wiper/wahs, and rear parking sonar. Upgrade package one, which requires the convenience package, includes a highly capable active offroad traction control system, rear locking differential, multi-information display (compass, inclinometer, outside temperature gauge), premium audio system with in-dash six disc changer, equalizer, eight speakers, 400-watt inverter, 17in. alloy wheels, leather-trimmed covered steering wheel with integrated audio controls, and cruise-control buttons, metal-colored shift lever, and interior door trim inserts keyed to the vehicle's exterior color. Upgrade package two includes all the others plus a rear subwoofer. Other options include auxiliary driving lights, running boards, rock rails, roof rack, brush guard, taillight guards, sport exhaust system, receiver hitch and harness, wind deflector with off-road lights, a cargo mat and all-weather or carpeted floor mats.

You can equip the FJ Cruiser anyway that you choose to get the most fun and enjoyment that matches your lifestyle and needs.

The all-new 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser is not for everyone, but is geared to the active, outdoor lifestyle of both young and older consumers.

Toyota has another winner!

Prices start at $23,300.00

ALL NEW 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER
"CRUISING TO NEW ADVENTURES ON OR OFF-ROAD"

COPYRIGHT:2006:HARVEY SCHWARTZ - EDITOR, AUTOMOTIVE ADDICTS

Other Specifications:

Headroom: f/r-41.3/40.3in.
Legroom: f/r-41.9/31.3in.
EPA cargo-rear seats down-66.8cu.ft. rear seats up-27.9cu.ft.
Curb weight: 2wd-4,050lbs., 4WD auto-4,295lbs., 4WD MT-4,290lbs.
Maximum towing: 4WD-5,570lbs. 2WD-5,330lbs.
EPA fuel consumption: 19 mpg city / 22 mpg highway.