The J60 Toyota Land Cruiser has been an icon for more than 40 years. But as tough as the 60 Series has been, even the newest are using engines and transmissions that were designed long enough ago that they’re eligible for early retirement.
The Toyota ‘Turbo Trail Cruiser’ is a SEMA show concept that fixes that particular piece of the puzzle. Or at least it updates it. It does so by adding Toyota’s newest twin-turbo V6 under the hood.
Turn the Land Slug Into a Real Cruiser
Look, we understand that the ancient gas and diesel engines are part of the appeal. After all, a 4.2L inline-6 engine that only makes 135 horsepower should last pretty much forever, right? And it’s fine that it burns more gas than a refinery’s flare stack because it turns that into durability.
Maybe you have one of the diesels instead. Like the turbocharged 12H-T that makes 134 horsepower, but at least has 232 pound-feet of torque. Yeah, that’s barely more torque than the old gasser, and we won’t even talk about the non-turbo diesels.
Putting a modern 3.4L (yes, Toyota calls it a 3.5 but it isn’t) twin-turbo V6 in it, then, should be one heck of a change. Instantly, the Toyota Turbo Trail Cruiser makes 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. That’s more than double what the original Cruiser managed.
Toyota says that this new Tundra engine gives the classic 60 Series a quieter drive, reduced emissions, and better fuel economy. It claims that it makes the Cruiser feel more modern and like something you could actually drive.
It Even Keeps the Stick
The problem is, though, that the new V6 engine isn’t exactly known for its reliability. There have been reports of it throwing bearings, and Toyota recalled a host of Tundras with the engine because of machining debris left behind. The fix was a new engine.
Still, we haven’t heard many issues since that recall, even if the new engine hasn’t proven itself for 40 years like the old ones.
One of the coolest parts of this Turbo Cruiser conversion is behind the engine. Toyota normally hangs a 10-speed automatic off the back of it. This one, though, has a five-speed manual. It’s the first vehicle to offer this new engine with three pedals.
Toyota Motorsports Garage built the adapter and motor mounts to put the V6 in front of the stock FJ60 five-speed. We’re not sure how well the transmission is going to cope with all that torque, but Toyota sounds confident. And hey, at least it’s not a 60 Series EV.
If Toyota could do it this way, maybe you could do it the other way. Putting that old five-speed into your newish Land Cruiser? OK, maybe not.
Toyota Turbo Trail Cruiser Is a Big Tease
It’s SEMA, so dropping in nearly three times the power wasn’t enough. Toyota also lifted the Turbo Trail Cruiser by an inch and a half and slapped on 35-inch tires. The colors and graphics are period-correct, but the JBL stereo is brand new.
No, Toyota isn’t going to build it for you to buy. But the concept vehicle shows that it’s possible, and that means more people can do it. Oh, and while Toyota calls it an FJ60, the F in the code means an inline six. By our math, this one would now be a VJ. Or a 35J, since Toyota’s engine naming has changed in the last 40 years.
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