Tracing the roots of Toyota’s new Land Cruiser FJ (TRJ240). What impact did the FT-4X announced in 2017 and the compact cruiser EV announced in 2021 have on the commercialization of the FJ? | Creative Trend

2026-05-15

Are there two concept cars that could have been the basis of the Land Cruiser FJ?

Toyota New Land Cruiser FJ (TRJ240) was announced and released on May 14, 2026.

In the previous blog, we talked about the specific main equipment of this model, its main specifications, and what kind of customer group this model targets. etc. were introduced.

This time, I would like to review and check out the concept cars that were the base/origin of the Land Cruiser FJ before its commercialization.

Is the Land Cruiser FJ’s origin the FT-4X concept that debuted in 2017?

First, let’s take a look at the concept car that will be the origin of the Land Cruiser FJ (Toyota official news release(quoted from).

The image above is the FT-4X concept that Toyota announced at the New York International Auto Show in April 2027.

This model is a design concept based on a small SUV that proposes a new way of driving cars with a focus on outdoor scenes, and was created by Calty Design Research, Inc., a design base in the United States.

In the United States, this model is said to have been designed to target the “millennial generation” (a generation of young people up to their mid-30s) living in urban areas who like “convenience” and “casualness” and want to go outdoors whenever they feel like it.

The body size of the FT-4X is equivalent to a B-C segment SUV, which can be said to be between the Yaris Cross and Corolla Cross.

This is a side view.

Although it has a rugged styling, you can see that it has a compact size that seems to have a shortened overall length.

The body size of the FT-4X is 4,249 mm in length, 1,821 mm in width, 1,623 mm in height, and 2,639 mm in wheelbase, making it an intermediate size for B-C segment SUVs.

For reference, the body size of the Land Cruiser FJ is 4,575 mm in length, 1,855 mm in width, 1,960 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,580 mm, so it is expected that the overall length has been extended, the overall width has been widened, and the overall height has been increased as a result of reducing the size to a more realistic size from the perspectives of driving balance, load capacity, and off-road performance.

The tailgate is not a lifting type, but a double-opening type.

This is the rear quarter view.

Although there are no rear tires installed, in addition to the vertical taillights, the rear tailgate is not the type that lifts up, but is actually a double-door type.

This is how it opens.

Not only the design of the handle of the tailgate, but also the playfulness and presentation of the details, such as the illustration of snowflakes on the inside of the tailgate, are unique.

Kevin Hunter, CEO of Calty, commented on the FT-4X, “We pursued the fun and new value that a crossover vehicle can add to outdoor scenes in urban and suburban areas.TOYOTA FT-4X is a car that combines styling and functionality, and is a car that can provide fun and convenience in the outdoors through thoughtful and attractive equipment.”

Ian Cartabiano, studio chief designer, said, “Even in this day and age where digital interfaces are so prevalent, we believe that satisfaction with mechanical design and functionality is important, and much of the design and equipment of the TOYOTA FT-4X was planned based on this idea.We want our customers to experience excitement when they come into contact with this car.”

Looking at it this way, the character and direction of the FT-4X feels like a concept car created with the aim of becoming the Land Cruiser FJ that will appear nine years later, and the fact that it was announced at the New York International Auto Show in the United States may suggest that it may be considering commercialization in the United States in the future.

Page 2: The design is just like the Land Cruiser FJ! What is Compact Cruiser EV?