Home /
Social media /
News /
Did Toyota create the best FJ Cruiser ever for SEMA 2k23? The FJ Bruiser is boss!
DID TOYOTA CREATE THE BEST FJ CRUISER EVER FOR SEMA 2K23? THE FJ BRUISER IS BOSS!
What is SEMA? Well, it’s the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) Show is seen as the world’s premier automotive and aftermarket industry trade show, the trade-only event allows automotive speciality equipment manufacturers to display their new wares alongside new model and concept car debuts from automotive manufacturers. In many cases, the cars on display are collaborations between manufacturers and aftermarket component manufacturers, but the cars that attract the real attention are those from performance component manufacturers who create special one-off builds to help highlight their products as well as their car-building skills. It’s also where you’ll find the completed projects from some of the world’s biggest and most popular automotive YouTube stars, and that’s the kind of thing that SXdrv loves. The 2023 instalment of the show takes place over four days, the 31st of October to the 3rd of November, and it pulls in over 160,000 attendees, over 70,000 buyer companies, over 3,300 media reps from around the world and features 2,400 exhibitors that represent over 140 countries. The show is set over 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space and has an additional 1 million square feet of features and attractions scattered throughout the expansive Las Vegas Convention Center. If there’s ever a show to add to your automotive bucket list, it’s SEMA.
Toyota’s legendary Land Cruiser is once again part of the US market, and to celebrate, Toyota has built a classic 1966 FJ45 pickup as a homage to the much-loved 4x4. The build has been dubbed the FJ Bruiser, and it’s one of the most comprehensively modified versions we’ve ever seen, and in that classic rock crawler style it just works. “Every year we are fortunate enough to get to build a SEMA special project vehicle. With the return of the Land Cruiser to the U.S. Market, it only made sense to build a rock crawler, so this is our take on a 1966 Toyota FJ45 Pickup Truck,” said Marty Schwerter, Toyota Motorsports garage team manager. “At first it was referred to loosely as ‘The Unstoppable FJ,’ but by the time it was done, it was a beastly vehicle, and so the team started referring to it as the ‘FJ Bruiser.’” Together with Toyota Racing Development, the build saw the best of the best parts fitted, along with custom everything. Powering the Bruiser is a NASCAR-derived 5.7-litre V8 with 533 kW on tap, and it was mated to a 3-speed automatic race-built Rancho Drivetrain Engineering transmission. To make all the sounds, there’s a MagnaFlow exhaust system. It’s still a solid axle vehicle and has front and rear Currie differentials and an Advanced Adapter Atlas transfer case that provides four 2WD speeds and four 4WD speeds. An amazing addition is the tank-like CAMSO track system through the underside centre of the chassis that can be used to pull the Bruiser out of any high-centred situation. There’s a full tube chassis and roll cage, full trailing arm suspension with Fox shocks and Eibach springs and 42-inch BF Goodrich Krawler T/A KX tyres on 20-inch Method beadlock wheels. Complete Customs sorted the interior with MOMO Daytona EVO seats and a vintage 1968 Jackie Stewart championship steering wheel. “This build is iconic, one-of-a-kind, and, let’s face it, totally radical looking,” said Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Marketing. “It’s a reminder of what Land Cruiser has always been; a vehicle built to take you as far as your imagination will allow.”
Take a look at the YouTube video that showcases what we reckon is the best FJ Cruiser build on the planet by Toyota in the USA. The custom build for SEMA 2023 is a stunning example of what can be done when you have access to the right parts and people and there's no budget cap. This thing cannot be faulted: Toyota's FJ Bruiser for SEMA 2k23 | CWMedia
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!