New Toyota LandCruiser FJ: everything we know about the Toyota Prado submarine and all-wheel drive LandCruiser 300 Series – Automotive News

Everything Toyota touches turns to gold, and the Japanese brand may be about to apply Midas traits to one of the most exciting cars in recent years.

Rumors are swirling in Japan about a mini version of the Toyota LandCruiser that will sit under the hood of the Prado in the brand’s robust all-wheel drive lineup.

A small, retro-styled 4×4 is one of the few things missing from Toyota’s extensive line-up, and with strong sales of the full-size LandCruiser 300 Series, people are queuing around the corner to get their hands on a fresh Prado, and Toyota may soon be filling that gap .

Toyota Australia added fuel to the fire when it trademarked the LandCruiser FJ name in March this year.

Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchising Sean Hanley spoke about this. CarsGuide he was unaware of the move by the company’s local unit earlier this year.

“Now you told me something I didn’t even know,” Hanley said.

“It doesn’t surprise me because we trademark a lot of things. We might want to use it again at some point, but I don’t know anything.”

“I don’t know about this product, but I’m not surprised. FJ is a great brand and I’m glad we locked it up.”

However, when there is smoke, there is fire.

Here’s everything we know about the alleged Toyota LandCruiser FJ.

What engine will the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser FJ use?

Reports from Japanese media, known for their well-placed sources, indicate that the LandCruiser FJ has ditched the diesel engine found in the brand’s other rugged vehicles such as the HiLux and Prado.

Instead, the LandCruiser FJ is believed to use a hybrid setup. The company is currently lukewarm on electric vehicles and believes hybrids are the answer for now.

Australia’s expected New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is due to come into force next year, making hybrids critical to avoiding fines.

Toyota is working on a new line of hybrid engines: a 1.5-liter and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit.

These new compact engines are designed to be more compatible with electrification.

There’s no word on the power output of the 1.5-litre unit, but the larger engine is thought to be capable of delivering 300kW when used in a hybrid setup.

Toyota is not expected to release a fully hybrid version of its diesel engines, but will instead go the mild-hybrid route, which will save only a negligible amount of fuel.

Adding to the hybrid rumors, Toyota Australia has switched to hybrid models across its entire passenger car range, with the US set to follow suit in the next two years.

Toyota could continue to use diesel engines if it decides to build on the aging IMV platform that underpins emerging market models such as the HiLux Champ.

This route will also help reduce costs.

What will the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser FJ look like?

This is where things get interesting.

There is no official information about the car, no spy photos or leaks about what it looks like, but there are cars, both modern and old, that the brand is likely to draw inspiration from.

Toyota’s new Prado features retro styling, bringing a chunky and rugged look that could easily translate into a smaller version.

The decade-old FJ Cruiser was potentially ahead of its time, and its looks have only gotten better with age.

The old FJ40 LandCruiser has similar proportions to the LandCruiser FJ in question, and its timeless, boxy, safari car-like appearance can be stunning with a modern look.

If it’s anything like the Compact Cruiser EV concept unveiled a few years ago, it will sell very well too.

Let’s hope it doesn’t require too many design cues from the HiLux Champ Rangga, recently launched for Asian markets like Thailand and Indonesia. The car’s sloppy proportions, diminutive wheels and strange body creases are striking.

Initial reports suggest that the LandCruiser FJ is roughly the same size as the Corolla Cross SUV. It is expected that its dimensions will be 4500 mm in length, 1830 mm in width and 1850 mm in height.

It is expected to have a more spacious cabin thanks to its 2,750mm wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) compared to the Corolla Cross’s 2,640mm wheelbase.

How much will the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser FJ cost?

According to reports, the LandCruiser FJ is priced lower than the Current Fortuner at around $50,000.

That’s a price that will have local off-road enthusiasts, tourists, weekend warriors, and everyone in between foaming at the mouth.

Expect Toyota to apply healthy margins to the car if it does come to fruition.

The new Prado range starts at around $72,500 (before on-road costs), so there needs to be some breathing room under that price so it doesn’t cannibalize sales, so the mid-to-high $50,000 mark sounds about right.

When will the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser FJ go on sale?

Reports say the LandCruiser FJ will go into production in November, but these reports may have referred to the recently revealed HiLux Champ Rangga.

There is a good chance that the diesel version of this car will be destined for emerging markets, but the more advanced hybrid version is destined for countries like Australia.

This would push the timeline back to 2026 or 2027.