Will Magazines be testing the FJ for "Best Of the Year" Articles?

[msahr]

Just wondering. I see Four Wheeler and 4Wheel & Off-Road say they will be testing new vehicles from several manufacturers "....and Toyota" for their respective "best of" articles. Makes you wonder, what other new vehicle from Toyota could it be? The 4Runner isn't significantly changed, the Land Cruiser.... nope. Tundra, maybe (4 Door) but I doubt that would be enough to warrant being included in "new" vehicles.

 

[endobrian]

Dec 2005 is the cut off. So the FJ will be the running next year.

 

[Gumby]

I doubt an 07 would qualify for a best of 06 model years. Could be. It seems to be where ever the PR folks push buttons at the magazines.

4 door Tundra is a fairly significant model change over the exteneded cab versions. More was changed than just the body style, IIRC.

 

[TopoWest]

I just got the Jan. 06 issue of Four Wheeler and it has the pickup truck of the year competition. There are only 3 trucks in it, Dodge, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu, no Toyota's. The Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab TRX4 won.

It says the truck must be on sale by Jan. 15, 2006 to be eligibile. The four wheeler of the year will be in the Feb. 06 issue so maybe the cutoff for that will be vehicle sale by Feb. 15. I hope the FJ makes it in so it can kick the H3's ass in it's first year and shutup all those hummer posers.

Maybe that's why Toyota is releasing an 07 in Feb. 06 just so they can compete against the first year of the H3. I really hope they get it in, that would be so great.

 

[msahr]

That was a pretty weak PTotY competition... A Dodge, a rebadged Dodge and a rebadged Chevy. B O R I N G.

Toyota has a good history with 4W&OR for "of the year" I think it could do well. Even against an H3. Of course a Toureg won it once....

 

[TopoWest]

I just found this article on the Toyota Pressroom site. It looks like the FJ didn't make it in the FWotY competition but a Toyota did beat the H3 and won the competition. The contenders were the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Hummer H3, the Jeep Commander, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. It dousn't say where the others placed but the Land Cruiser won.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases/View?id=TYT2005110835218#

 

[Beowulf]

"To qualify, each vehicle must be entirely new, or sport substantial mechanical revisions from a previous model year, in addition to using a two-speed transfer case."

This sure seems to be a stretch for the 2006 Land Cruiser. I wasn't aware there were any changes; much less substantial changes.

-B-

 

[UltraFJ40]

I wasn't either............... wow I guess I really need to do my homework!

Gotta run and catch up on all the new changes for the 2006!



Doug

 

[ronin-0707]

I'm kind of curious where the Suzuki stood with the other contenders. We all how we feel about Toyota and the H3, but wouldn't it be cool to see the H3 bested by the Suzuki. That thing has quite of few standard luxuries, opt. locking center diffs-and Arb makes lockers for the older Vitaras.

 

[MoJ]

"To qualify, each vehicle must be entirely new, or sport substantial mechanical revisions from a previous model year, in addition to using a two-speed transfer case."

This sure seems to be a stretch for the 2006 Land Cruiser. I wasn't aware there were any changes; much less substantial changes.

-B-

Nothing too substantial. But I guess the height control could of improved capability.

From C&D http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=30&article_id=9596

The Land Cruiser receives an engine upgrade for 2006 with the addition of variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) to its 4.7L V-8 engine. The new V-8 powertrain delivers 275 horsepower, an increase of 40 over the 2005 model, and 332 lb.-ft. torque.

In addition, the Land Cruiser also receives a standard tire pressure monitor system and optional hydraulic automatic height control (AHC), which allows the driver to raise the vehicle on its suspension to negotiate particularly rough off-road terrain, and to lower it for easy entry and exit.

For 2006, changes include a new grille, head lamps and tail lamps. Eighteen-inch high gloss alloy wheels are standard while a new rear spoiler is available.