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Toyota Retro Cruiser

New on the outside, old on the inside is usually the norm for a show-grabbing concept car. But not this one. Instead of being built from dated, inexpensive parts with a fanciful hi-tech body, the Toyota Retro Cruiser plays a role reversal, with an old-fashioned body and bang-up-to-date mechanicals. So what's it like to drive? Auto Express is the first magazine to get its hands on the car and reveal all.

March 2002

New on the outside, old on the inside is usually the norm for a show-grabbing concept car. But not this one. Instead of being built from dated, inexpensive parts with a fanciful hi-tech body, the Toyota Retro Cruiser plays a role reversal, with an old-fashioned body and bang-up-to-date mechanicals. So what's it like to drive? Auto Express is the first magazine to get its hands on the car and reveal all.

The story began last year when Toyota approached performance and custom specialist Rod Millen Motorsport with the idea of building a 4x4 taking the style of the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 from 1967, but featuring modern mechanicals.

Millen was first contacted by Toyota in the early Nineties, then touting a serious motorsport budget. Ever since, the pair have been a formidable partnership.

The original Land Cruiser is substantially smaller than today's beast, so Millen had to figure out how the bodywork would fit the larger chassis. The easiest way seemed to be to add more metal to the original FJ bodywork and wings. The petrol engine comes from the current Land Cruiser; the 4.7-litre V8 powerplant produces 230bhp at 4,800rpm with 434Nm of torque at 3,600rpm.

While the Land Cruiser's chassis has been left largely untouched, the suspension and steering underwent serious modifications to allow for the awkwardly shaped bodywork, and off-road ability is significantly uprated. The Connolly hide-clad interior is simple, with the Land Cruiser's stereo joined by a navigation system.

Accelerate away and a growl from the stainless steel exhaust plus a sucking sound from the air filter complement the V8's throaty rumble. At 181kg lighter than the Land Cruiser, the Retro is a brisk performer, sprinting from 0-60mph in 12.2 seconds. Four disc brakes display excellent stopping ability, with 55-0mph taking only 2.98 seconds and 33.5metres.

As a town car, the Retro Cruiser is great - not least because of its good visibility and tight turning circle. Light power-steering and quick throttle responses make it feel ultra-nimble. It also proves seriously capable off-road. With its lighter weight, shorter overhangs and enhanced suspension travel, it can ride over obstacles the Land Cruiser couldn't even contemplate.

Millen would not put a price on the Retro Cruiser, but it cost the equivalent of US 0,000 in man-hours and materials to build. Toyota was obviously interested enough in public reaction to spend that much; if it decides to put the Retro Cruiser into production, we're sure brisk sales will justify the investment.

There's no doubt that people are bored with mass-market modern cars - hence the success of Volkswagen's new Beetle and Chrysler's PT Cruiser in the US. Maybe this Retro Cruiser could be next. It certainly has the stylistic appeal and, when it comes to the driving side, we're sure it has what it takes to more than impress existing 4x4 drivers.

At a glance

* Toyota Retro Cruiser concept tests public reaction to a classically styled 4x4 with modern driving dynamics

* Bodywork is based around original 1967 Land Cruiser

* Platform and mechanicals come from latest 4.7-litre V8 Land Cruiser

* Likely to cost

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