Mini Toyota LandCruiser reveal locked in

Toyota’s much-hyped mini LandCruiser FJ is on the cusp of being revealed.

A new report from Japanese outlet Mag-X, which reports on the local car industry, has said the mini off-roader will break cover on Monday.

Read More About Toyota Landcruiser

• First look at the Toyota LandCruiser FJ? New HiLux Champ-based 4WD debuts overseas as mini-Fortuner - but is Australia on the cards?
• Exciting mini LandCruiser edging closer
• It's happening! Mini 2026 Toyota LandCruiser FJ 4WD to launch next year as rival to tiny Mitsubishi Pajero and Suzuki Jimny rival, but it might not be on the cards for Australia: reports

The report said the vehicle is due to go on sale in Japan mid next year and will be imported from Thailand.

This helps put it on Australia’s radar as it has now been confirmed for right-hand drive, and Australia's HiLux ute and Fortuner SUV are brought in from Thailand.

Toyota has still not confirmed the existence of the new FJ LandCruiser but there have been breadcrumbs left that lead us to believe it has been in the works for some time.

New patent filings to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) by Toyota, which include an image of what appears to be a production version of this revived FJ Cruiser poured fuel on the fire.

Not to mention Toyota Australia has trademarked the FJ LandCruiser name in Australia.

Toyota Australia executive, Sean Hanley, was noncommittal on the FJ LandCruiser when quizzed about the trademark by CarsGuide previously.

“Doesn’t surprise me because we trademark a lot of things. We may at some point want to use it again but there’s nothing that I’m aware of,” said Hanley.

“I’m not aware of that product, but I’m not surprised. FJ is a great trademark, I’m glad we locked it down.”

It is tipped to be about the same size as the compact Toyota Corolla Cross SUV, but wear butch looks from the Toyota’s line of rugged 4WDs such as the LandCruiser 300 and Prado.

It won’t be as sophisticated as those bigger machines, as it won’t share the same TNGA platform as them.

Instead it will likely be based on the IMV-0 platform that is used for emerging market vehicles such as the HiLux Champ in South-East Asia.

This means power will come from a choice of either a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine or a 2.7-litre petrol motor, which are both found in entry-level HiLux utes.