Toyota Roughs it at the Baja 1000 With FJ Cruiser

One of the most respected names in the 4x4 business is FJ (and BJ, for that matter), a go-anywhere vehicle that has earned a reputation for being tough and durable. So, when Toyota decided to tack those two letters onto the front of its latest retro-styled FJ-inspired SUV, Land Cruiser fans wanted to know whether or not it was as good off-road as its namesake predecessors. Luckily, its very good. But to make the new FJ Cruisers name worth its weight in gold, Toyota has set out to compete in the 38th running of the Baja 1000, one of the most grueling off-road races around. The truck will enter in the Mini Stock category, and will be driven by off-road legend Rod Millen and company.

Compared to some of the other vehicles that will be running the Baja, the FJ Cruiser Race Trucks Mini Stock status means that its only got little by the way of technical modifications. The chassis and bodywork are straight from the production line, while fragments of the interior - door handles, dashboard, center console - have remained intact. Of course, this isnt to say that this particular model doesnt have its fair share of racing-grade upgrades; the cockpit is framed with a seamless roll cage, plus racing seats with harnesses and a 22-gallon race-spec fuel tank have been added. In terms of the powertrain, the FJ race truck uses the exact same 239-hp, 4.0-liter V6 as the road-ready version, although its got a custom exhaust system and a new filter to keep dust out of the internal combustion process.

Out of all the Toyota trucks currently on the market, the FJ Cruiser is the most appropriate to go boulder hopping, but just the same no production vehicle is capable of going through the torture that is the Baja 1000 unchanged. To ensure that the truck can cope with the terrain and high speeds, the team has installed special Donahoe suspension components with coilover springs and Fox Racing shock bypasses that have been tweaked to cope with such abusive terrain. More powerful brakes with dual master cylinders help the truck slow and stop, plus theyve been upgraded to deal with constant usage and the high demands from the racing driver. To get a grip on the dirt and sand the FJ rides on mammoth-sized 285/75R16 wheels and tires, with a 4.88 axle ratio front and back.

While we wont know how the FJ will fare until the event begins, consumers will be able to take part in the action by purchasing their very own limited edition version of the FJ Cruiser race truck. Tuned by TRD, this truck features a heavy-duty suspension and technical kit upgrade that consists of Bilstein dampers and 16-inch TRD wheels painted gunmetal. On trucks with manual transmissions, a short shifter for reduced throws has been installed, as has a custom exhaust system for improved performance. Oh, and the TRD version is only available in black, complete with a black roof, and black accent details.  Better act quick if you want one, as only 3,200 units of the FJ Cruiser TRD will be made.