With the brand new chassis attached to the olde-world body all that was left to make it roadworthy was the addition of Toyota's completely new 230-hp 4.7-L V8. If you've never experienced this engine, available in the Tundra pickup, plus 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs, it's one of the jewels of the truck world. More Lexus than Land Cruiser, its sophisticated 32-valve DOHC architecture and variable valve timing is as smooth as smooth can be, while offering levels of power and torque the FJ-45 could have never known before.
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| The retro Cruiser concept is fitted with Toyota's fantastic new 230-hp 4.7-L V8, which is also found in the Tundra pickup, and 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
Despite the added oomph comes respectable fuel economy, at least compared to the old inefficient inline-6. Minding gas mileage is ultra-important when trekking into uncharted territory, where refueling stations are about as common as Sherpa trials are in Manhattan.
Millen's engineers pulled the engine backwards by 203 mm (8 inches) due to the FJ's narrower engine bay, but all fit in place after a little tweaking. To enhance performance and the V8's authoritative rumble, a Borla stainless steel exhaust system was custom designed.
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| It was important for the Retro Cruiser to be seen as the ultimate off-roader, but not by completely sacrificing modern day civility. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
With a frame, body and engine in place it was time to turn to the suspension setup. It was important for the Retro Cruiser to be seen as the ultimate off-roader, but not by completely sacrificing modern day civility. Therefore, once again, it would take a combination of old and new philosophies to achieve the goal. For refinement an independent rear suspension with coil-over spring/shock assemblies was designed and fabricated in-house, giving the Cruiser 318 mm (12.5 inches) of wheel travel. The front suspension was massaged as well, increasing wheel travel by 30 percent. Widening the track by 102 mm (4 inches) must give the Land Crusher the on road handling of at least a Hummer (which is fairly good by SUV standards). Now it would be comfortable and capable.