2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Preview

Compared to the 4Runner it's based upon, the FJ Cruiser is about as utilitarian as could be imagined. Those who experienced the

Compared to the 4Runner it's based upon, the FJ Cruiser is about as utilitarian as could be imagined. (Photo: Toyota Canada)

original FJ40, and I was one of them thanks to a Dad who loves the backwoods as much as any man I've ever met, who currently owns a Tundra pickup and RAV4 SUV by the way, will find the painted metal surfaces and industrial components that make up the new model's interior to their liking.

Well, at least this is what I thought when first viewing the photos from a popular press site, not marked as FJ Cruiser Concept like the other concept photos, but just as FJ Cruiser. Not witnessing the Chicago FJ unveiling personally, I never got the chance to peak inside the production version. And being that among the fifty odd photos Toyota released of the production FJ, there's nary one of the vehicle's interior, it makes a person question if they've even designed an interior yet. This belief was substantiated by a member of Toyota's PR team, who told me that the 2007 FJ was introduced without a production interior, so there you have it.

So, in the absense of any real interior, we're left wondering what will remain of the concept interior when it goes into production. The FJ Cruiser Concept offers a great deal more style than the original FJ, and probably what we'll see when the FJ becomes available at our local Toyota retailer, featuring giant sized aluminum grab bars above the dash (that will no doubt have to be deleted for safety reasons), that also house ducting for the ventilation system, a bright yellow faced instrument cluster, and a detachable GPS system (also not on the production version's options list), ideal for taking along when the road ends and foot trail begins - although, I've yet to find a navigation system that works in the woods available from an automotive manufacturer.

To get any indication of just how radically mechanical the FJ Concept's interior is, you've got to see it with your own two eyes. There

There is nothing inside the FJ Concept that remotely resembles anything previously offered by Toyota, or any other manufacturer, making me question what Toyota will offer in the production FJ. (Photo: Toyota Canada)

is nothing inside the FJ Concept that remotely resembles anything previously offered by Toyota, or any other manufacturer. According to Toyota the production version's steering wheel, centre-mounted shifter and door panels, will continue the toolkit theme, but to what extent is unknown.

Included as standard equipment, in the U.S. at least with Canadian specifications available when it gets launched here, is air conditioning, an AM/FM CD audio system with six speakers, tilt steering, four cupholders, a passenger seat back pocket and an upper dash-mounted glove box.