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Toyota FJ Cruiser

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What is this discussion about? Toyota FJ Cruiser, SUV

Messages Page 45 of 190

#432 of 1886 Hybrid FJ? by jeffholmes

Jul 07, 2005 (11:13 am)

I posted this to the discussion board at www.hybridcars.com, in a thread titled "Hybrid 4x4/Off-Road Vehicle?". Thought it might be of some interest here:
 
"This topic has a lot in common with later posts in the "Hybrids are ugly" thread (early July 05), which ask why manufacturers aren't designing hybrids to target youth markets and first-time buyers.
  
One of the best examples is the upcoming 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser (non-hybrid, due in early 2006), a "reissue" of the classic off-road vehicle of the 1950s-1980s. In their press release, Toyota clearly states that they're targeting young/first-time buyers who love the outdoors. Yet hybrid technology is not an option and, according to some trades, not planned for the next several years.
  
Young? Outdoors? No two words scream "hybrid" any louder. The conservation ethic of today's youth dwarfs that of previous generations- especially true when you look at kids who love canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, and on and on. And yet auto makers continue to design and price hybrids for the white collar, over-30 crowd.
  
I've been on a waiting list for a non-limited Highlander Hybrid for several months, but after an agonizing wait, further research, and some serious soul-searching, I'm moving to Plan B: I can buy a Prius and 2/3 of an FJ Cruiser for the price of one Highlander Hybrid, assuming I can make it till early 2006 without a 4WD. The Prius will be our everyday, around-town vehicle and the FJ will be the "mobile field lab" for my biodiversity consulting work.
  
It's a disappointing compromise, but until the auto makers see the link between 4WD, outdoors, young buyers, and alternative energy technology, I'll have to settle for one Hybrid and one 20-mpg workhorse."
 
In other words, I LOVE the FJ concept and can't wait to own one. I just wish they'd make it in a hybrid.

#433 of 1886 Hold up by chris65amg

Jul 08, 2005 (1:10 pm)

Hybrids suck off road. The batteries and the hybrid drive are too sensitive to be banged around on rocks. In the future it may happen, but not now.
 
I agree about your statements about who the automakers are pricing the hybrids for. The only reason I haven't looked into one is that I'm still under 30 and none of them are hip enough for me. (does hip still mean what it used to?)

#434 of 1886 Thanks KEN by marketable

Jul 08, 2005 (8:43 pm)

Thanks KEN please do post if you hear anything.

#435 of 1886 Toyota will make all vehicles available as hybrids by bcmalibu99ls

Jul 09, 2005 (3:59 am)

Eventually. That's the plan. As far as hybrid parts' vulnerability off-road, I'm sure some very tough skid plates would solve this problem. Besides, what hybrid parts are close to the surface except for (possibly) regenerative braking parts? And just think how much further you can go off-road in a hybrid vehicle, with its substantially improved gas mileage.
 
As for RAV4, I've read a review of this car where the automotive journalist said that AWD RAV4 is much tougher off-road than many people think, but Toyota doesn't like to advertise this fact, perhaps in order not to hurt "real" truck sales

#436 of 1886 Re: Toyota will make all vehicles available as hybrids [bcmalibu99ls] by toyotaken

Jul 09, 2005 (5:11 am)

Replying to: bcmalibu99ls (Jul 09, 2005 3:59 am)
The other thing to keep in mind for off-road use, is that the electric motors have 100% of their Torque available at 0 RMP's. So for real rock crawling, this would be a great asset. Can you imagine the "crawler gear" setup with a hybrid Truck with an electric motor the size of your wheel rim? Imagine the torque on your arm coming from a normal cordless drill multiplied x1000 for example. I think it's still a bit off as most of the hybrid development that Toyota and Honda have done have been on "car based" applications with the focus on transverse engines and front-drive bias, but I don't think we're far off from the Trucks being a beneficiary very soon.
 
Ken

#437 of 1886 Re: Toyota will make all vehicles available as hybrids [toyotaken] by vgvander

Jul 09, 2005 (10:55 am)

Replying to: toyotaken (Jul 09, 2005 5:11 am)
I can't agree anymore. In everything that I have read, Toyota has ambitious plans in the next ten years to develop hybrid technology into most of their trucks and suvs. This is in hopes of increasing their fuel efficiency and attracting more buyers allowing them to take up a good position in the truck/suv market. If I recall correctly, Toyota had planned on putting some of this hybrid technology in their new and upcoming FTX Concept Truck which is their new replacement for the Tundra. If it actually happens, I'm not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if we some of this hybrid technology being incorporated in the FJ within the next 5-10 years. Toyota has learned a lot from its success of its Prius.

#438 of 1886 For those of you rushing out to put a deposit down by vgvander

Jul 09, 2005 (11:46 am)

With the FJ having an expected launch date of Feb 2006, guess what is coming out January 6-15th of 2006? You guessed it the 2006 Los Angeles and North Atlantic International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS). Guess who is going to be sitting behind the wheel of the FJ, adjusting the seats and checking out the lumbar support and dash.... ME!!!
For those of you that can't make it then, I would try and post some photos, but I'm sure EDMUNDS will beat me to it.
I like playing poker and in about 6 months from now, Toyota will have to show us some of its cards... Take care.

#439 of 1886 Re: Toyota will make all vehicles available as hybrids [vgvander] by toyotaken

Jul 09, 2005 (6:37 pm)

Replying to: vgvander (Jul 09, 2005 10:55 am)
There's no question they're going to be implementing the Hybrid tech. in their trucks going forward. I've actually heard from some of the engineers from Toyota that they have a prototype of the Hybrid powertrain in a Tundra that just looks like a normal tundra. What they're playing with, from what I've heard is the size and position of the fuel tank. As there isn't a rear drive-shaft needed, they're playing with the idea of a 50+ gallon capacity. 50 gallons x 30mpg potentially gives you 1,500 miles on a fillup. It's just a question as to when they can get the capacity to build them. They're trying to get the infrastructure to build as many hybrids as possible, but I'm hearing it takes about 2 years to overhaul an existing assembly line including planning to do so. Plus the parts needed for the electric motors and batteries are in short supply.
 
I'm sure we'll be seeing more of these and sooner than we expect, but the whole Hybrid craze has taken a VERY conservative company like Toyota by surprise.
 
Ken

#440 of 1886 Re: Toyota will make all vehicles available as hybrids [bcmalibu99ls] by nippononly

Jul 11, 2005 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: bcmalibu99ls (Jul 09, 2005 3:59 am)
"As for RAV4, I've read a review of this car where the automotive journalist said that AWD RAV4 is much tougher off-road than many people think, but Toyota doesn't like to advertise this fact, perhaps in order not to hurt "real" truck sales"
 
I have my doubts, but even if this is true, the RAV has that pogo stick "sport" suspension - that wouldn't be any fun AT ALL as soon as you got a few yards from the pavement.

#441 of 1886 Re: For those of you rushing out to put a deposit down [vgvander] by fj07

Jul 11, 2005 (4:39 pm)

Replying to: vgvander (Jul 09, 2005 11:46 am)
I will deffinately be there but so far the FJ is not on the list to Debut.
http://www.laautoshow.com/2005/debuts.aspx Maybe they consider last year the debut of it?

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