Toyota FJ Cruiser Ultimate Edition Sounds the FJ's Death Knell

Stephen Elmer
by Stephen Elmer

The time has come for the FJ Cruiser to meet its maker, but before production ends, Toyota is set to build 2,500 FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Editions as a final hurrah.

Revealed at the 2013 SEMA Show, the FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition is the most capable FJ ever according to Toyota. To help tackle the trails, the Ultimate Edition is fitted with TRD off-road suspension, Bilstein shocks and 66mm TRD race coil springs in the front that give the Ultimate Edition a flat stance. Out back, 50mm rear shocks are equipped with remote reservoirs to diminish damping fade.

2013 SEMA Show Coverage

A front skid plate with TRD embossed right into it is fitted to make the Ultimate Edition look tough and to improve the approach angle.

The wheels, which also come from TRD, are 16-inch BF Goodrich beadlock tires, while rock rails and a roof rack complete the exterior. Custom “Heritage Blue” paint also helps to differentiate this special edition, along with a white grille surround.

Interior appointments stay nearly the same as the standard FJ, offering a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a 115v power outlet and floating-ball multi-information display, though the Ultimate Edition gets a stainless steel dash plaque.

Power comes from the same 260-hp 4.0-liter V6 that powers every FJ Cruiser.

GALLERY: Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition

Discuss this story on our FJ Cruiser Forum

Stephen Elmer
Stephen Elmer

Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>

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  • Dc Dc on Dec 17, 2013

    Is it going to rust thru in multiple places like my 2007 did (while located in the desert)?

  • Cageordie Cageordie on Dec 17, 2013

    Not bad. Seven years after they originally said it was going to end. I wonder if they will build anything to compete with Jeep. The visibility out of the thing was always too bad for me to consider owning one. Right now the Grand Cherokee and Cherokee are streets ahead in technology. I had a hard time squeezing 20mpg out of a 4Runner and I got 24.5 out of my 2014 Grand Cherokee... now moving on to the diesel with torque and economy Toyota don't come close to matching.

    • See 1 previous
    • Cageordie Cageordie on Dec 18, 2013

      Reliable certainly. Uneconomical, old tech infotainment, old A750F transmission with well known issues (I'd have got the manual because I have never worn out a clutch). An engine that's been bored out to the point where there's scarcely enough metal to hold it together and any damage means a new block. And after all that the questionable handling and the terrible visibility. The FJ is a styling exercise with an unexpectedly long life. So now what are they going to do? The 4Runner is OK but still has all the issues of the FJ less the visibility problems and the manual option. If they stuck a decent diesel in the 4Runner with KDSS, HIDs and Garmin based nav then I'd probably buy it. But with a late 90s auto with a suggest your opinion version of a manual mode? No thanks.

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