Toyota’s New FJ Cruiser EV Looks Incredible

We couldn’t be happier that Toyota won the 2022 Car Design Award for Concept vehicles. Not because we think Toyota deserved it (which it may have), but because it prompted the release of more photos of the Toyota FJ Cruiser EV concept. Toyota calls it the Compact Cruiser EV, and now we have real-life, scale images of the brand’s concept. The car you see below isn’t a render, but a 1:1 scale model of the concept car.

We’d forgive you for thinking it was some sort of FJ-flavored render given its futuristic proportions. But those are real tires this thing is sitting on. The concept was initially created by the Toyota Europe Design development center in France and clearly takes inspiration from the FJ Cruiser of yesteryear, a hot commodity on its own.

If the FJ Cruiser was retro-futuristic when it debuted, this is certainly more so. It already pulls from both the previous FJ Cruiser and older FJ models. That’s likely most evident in the grille, which features “Toyota” script and a retro-inspired fascia paired with a modern-looking skidplate. The wheels are also rather modern looking, largely because they’re black and diamond-cut, just like nearly every wheel these days. Bring back the steelies, we say.

Notably, this concept doesn’t feature the FJ’s odd rear door layout, which was more Mazda RX8 than Toyota at the time. Still, it’s one of many quirks that has led to a cult following for the older model. That’s something this car is absolutely trying to emulate, with the rear quarter panel ladder and integrated roof rack. Thankfully, Toyota also showed off some far more retro wheels which add a sort of white wall tire effect to the car.

We haven’t heard much from Toyota about this concept in the last few months, but with its recent award, we could see some info from Toyota in the coming weeks or months. With the current generation Toyota 4Runner getting a little long in the tooth and the introduction of the Bronco Sport, the time is right for a small Toyota off-roader.

The brand has already hinted at a new small pickup truck entrant, and this could very well arrive on a similar platform to that small truck. That’s doubly true if the small truck is going to be electric, which would simplify production considerably. For now, we’ll simply have to wonder at what a new FJ Cruiser might look like.