C-HR

Make
Toyota
Segment
SUV

Way back in 2017, Toyota released a futuristic yet retro concept vehicle called the TJ Cruiser. Like the discontinued FJ Cruiser, the TJ Cruiser blended retro design with modern technology in an off-road-oriented package. Toyota has been quiet on an FJ Cruiser successor for a while now, saying it could be a long time before a production version hits the roads in the United States.

But according to Japanese magazine Best Car, Toyota could be gearing up to reveal a concept version of the TJ Cruiser at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show in October. Not only is the car rumored to be revealed before year's end, but the order books are also expected to open in December.

Before we all get too excited, there are some caveats here. For starters, the TJ Cruiser isn't expected to be a body-on-frame FJ Cruiser successor, but rather a subcompact crossover riding on the TNGA platform, which currently underpins models like the Corolla and RAV4. The production TJ Cruiser is expected to be slightly shorter than the C-HR but taller to increase cargo capacity. Those sliding doors from the concept may also be replaced by more traditional rear doors.

Toyota reportedly hasn't decided if the production version will be a five-seater or a three-row seven-seater. Considering how small the C-HR is, it seems hard to believe Toyota will be able to squeeze a pair of seats back there. Either way, the seats are expected to fold to create a perfectly flat load floor.

Engine choices are rumored to include a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with a hybrid motor, the same as you'd find in a Prius or Corolla hybrid with the same all-wheel-drive system from the Prius. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is also on the table with front- or all-wheel-drive. There is a slight possibility we could see the TJ Cruiser in the US but with a reveal in Tokyo, it seems more likely this will be a Japan-only model.