For those who are still convinced that “they used to build cars by engineers, not marketers,” Toyota has prepared a brilliant argument. At the SEMA 2025 exhibition in Las Vegas, the Japanese presented the unique Turbo Trail Cruiser — a modern embodiment of the legendary Land Cruiser FJ60.
In appearance, it’s a classic from the 1980s: square lines, halogen headlights, chrome details. But just open the hood — and the retro romance instantly changes to technical awe. Because instead of the old naturally aspirated “six” under the hood, there is a 3.4-liter V6 i-Force twin-turbo from the current Toyota Tundra. The power is 394 hp and 650 Nm of torque, almost twice as much as the original.
To make all this work like clockwork, the engineers at Toyota Motorsports Garage created special mounts, redesigned the oil pan, heat exchanger, and even manufactured a new wiring harness. An adapter plate allowed them to keep the original 5-speed manual transmission — because otherwise, it wouldn’t be a Land Cruiser anymore.
The frame construction is preserved, but the suspension received a lift and new geometry. The 35-inch tires on polished wheels with beadlocks look as if this “grandpa” is ready to storm any track.
The interior is almost unchanged, except for the modern JBL audio system and the central touch screen. Everything else is pure authenticity, the smell of the past, and the feeling of a true engineering soul.