In 2003, Toyota debuted a concept SUV designed to capitalize on the sport utility craze in North America. The Toyota FJ Cruiser was a retro-styled homage to the famous FJ40 of the 1970s, and when it launched as a production model in 2006, more than 56,000 FJ Cruisers found a home. But as of 2012, sales numbers had plummeted to around 13,000 units, and Toyota has decided to not reinvest in the heavy SUV as fuel economy becomes a primary concern for many buyers.
But loyal FJ fans can rejoice, as Toyota has a special send-off planned for the final year of the FJ Cruiser. The 2014 FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition is described as the toughest FJ ever, and sales will be limited to just 2,500 units.
The chief differentiating factor is the special “Heritage Blue” paint job that the Ultimate Edition comes with, though the changes are more than just skin deep. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) added Bilstein race shocks to increase off-road capabilities, in addition to coil springs of its own design to help handle the roughest of trails.
Up front is a quarter-inch skid plate made from lightweight aluminum, and the 16-inch beadlock wheels are wrapped in BFGoodrich off-road rubber. You can only get the Ultimate Edition in 4×4, and it comes standard with Advanced Traction Control, Crawl Control, and Vehicle Skid Control for all of your highway and off-road adventures.
This could be the last of the big off-road-dedicated SUVs built, as consumers move toward smaller and smaller vehicles, so don’t miss your chance to get the last of this disappearing breed