FJ Cruiser Review In Local Paper

[DRTDuck]

No new information here, but in the spirit of sharing the various write-ups, I'll put this one up. This was in the Kansas City Star Automotive section last Friday (with a pic). It is from a contributing editor (Tom Strongman) so you may have seen the same in your paper.

"Toyota's orginal FJ 40 was a rugged, Jeep-like off-roader that developed a cultlike folowing. The 2007 FJ Cruiser tht plays off of that orginal model is a compact SUV that rides on a shortened version of the 4Runner's chassis.

The FJ Cruiser has a white roof, round headlights and wide grill wit "Toyota" in the middle. It will be available with two-wheel and four-wheel drive, and it will be sold in only on body style. Access to the back seat is through small doors like those on a pickuptruck.

A 245-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6 will be coupled to a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.

No prices have been established, but Toyota wants the FJ Cruiser to be competitive wit the Nissan Xterra, Ford Escape and Jeep Wrangler. That requires a starting price around $20,000. Antilock brakes, traction control, stability control and brake assist will be standard, along with air conditioning, tilt steering wheel and CD player. Seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags will be extra cost options.

Toyota said it hopes the new FJ will be a bridge to Scion buyers."