During the retro craze of the early New Millennium with the return of the VW Beetle, Mini Cooper and Ford Thunderbird and Mustang, Toyota joined the pack with the FJ Cruiser. A modern take on the classic FJ40 Land Cruiser, the FJ Cruiser was introduced in 2003 at the North American International Auto Show and was so well received that Toyota ushered it into production for the 2006 model year. In the world of SUVs, the retrospectively styled Cruiser was a breath of fresh air to many, as exterior designer Jin Won Kim said, “… it is a combination of ruggedness and functionality, with an honest look and modern surfaces.” To boot, the FJ was astonishingly capable both off road and roaming the boulevards. Equipped with all the right off-road trappings, the FJ easily competed with the world’s best. In 2008, Toyota introduced the Trail Teams Special Edition FJ Cruiser, featuring a number of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) options such as the 16-inch alloy wheels in black, Bilstein shocks and a factory blackout treatment. Inside, a special badge on the dashboard and custom floor mats denoted the uniqueness of the Trail Teams FJ Cruiser. Available between 2008 and 2014, except for 2009, when no Trail Teams Editions were built, production never broke 3,000 units, except for in its first year, when a mere 3,200 were built. Powered by a 4.0L V-6 engine with a dealer-installed supercharger and 6-speed manual transmission, a 4-wheel drive system with a center Torsen differential provides the motivation. Finished in Ice Berg White, this 2008 Trail Teams Edition features blacked- out mirrors, bumpers, grille guard bumper with accessory lights, roof rack with accessory lights, rear-mounted spare tire and alloy wheels with BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires. Inside, passengers will appreciate the simple ruggedness of the FJ’s black interior with bucket seats, center console, AM/FM/CD stereo system, Bluetooth, air conditioning and other modern accessories.
