Toyota has taken the wraps of its new SUV concept, the Tj Cruiser, before the model makes its official debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.
The Japanese manufacturer claims that the car has been designed "for drivers with lifestyles where work and play dovetail seamlessly." The concept’s name comes from ‘toolbox’ and ‘joy’ (Tj) and the traditional Cruiser nameplate.
Styled as a boxy angular-looking SUV, the concept features special coating used on the hood, roof and fenders to protect them against scratches and dirt, a sturdy suspension and 20-inch wheels wrapped in chunky tyres.
The boxy shape is meant to aid ingress to the rear seats, which is further helped by the sliding rear door. All the seats, except for the driver’s one, can be folded down to liberate even more space on the inside. The lifestyle SUV has plenty of tie-down points and deck boards that enable easy anchoring of equipment such as surfboards and cycles.
Toyota’s design chief Hirokazu Ikuma has confirmed that the Tj Cruiser concept is being evaluated for a global launch. The model has been made to gauge the interest of public attending the Tokyo motor show.
While Toyota has said little about its technical specifications – which will only be revealed when the car debuts at Tokyo – we know that the Tj Cruiser concept is based on the next-generation TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) that also underpins the new Prius and is powered by a petrol-electric hybrid engine displacing about 2.0 litres.
Along with the Tj Cruiser concept that is due to launch in 2022, the Japanese carmaker will also bring its all-new Century luxury sedan to the motor show.