Toyota Has A Big Reveal Happening This Spring

Back in 2017, Toyota unveiled a somewhat unconventional concept vehicle called the TJ Cruiser. Although some may at first see nothing more than a box on wheels, a closer examination reveals bits of cool retro styling that make it a true standout from just about anything else currently on sale. Although it was only a concept, the TJ Cruiser was built on the Japanese automaker's TNGA global platform, which currently underpins the latestToyota CorollaandToyota RAV4. Question is, will it ever reach production?

According to Japan's Best Car, the answer is 'yes.' A new report claims the production-ready version will debut this May, though this isn't the first time the subject has come up. Late last summer, this same source indicated alate October 2019 revealwas planned.

Well, October came and went and still no debut. Hopefully, this latest report is more accurate, but it fails to provide a clear answer whether or not it's US-bound. It could initially be a Japan-only model but since it's built on a global platform, those plans could later change. The report also claims the production version will retain many of the concept's design convenience features, such as the folding seats, flexible cargo area, and sliding doors. Both two- and three-row configurations will supposedly be on offer.

There are a few possibilities for under the hood, including either a 1.8- or 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain, or a 2.0-liter gasoline engine. A CVT will send power to either the front or all four wheels, the latter of which will be the same AWD system from the RAV4.