{fig. 153}

When I first laid eyes on a Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, it was like seeing the live-action incarnation of a childhood fantasy.  But when Toyota revealed the FJ Cruiser concept back in 2003 at the Chicago Auto Show and the production model made its appearance on the roadways in 2006, the sense of adventure that the original CJ and FJ series Land Cruisers evoked had been lost underneath clean lines and tamed for mass appeal. Fortunately, automotive designer Jonathan Ward felt the same way. Having been asked by Mr. Toyoda, himself, to build three running & driving prototypes of what would eventually become the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, and having witnessed firsthand the drastic design departure from his original prototypes, Ward created ICON by revisiting the FJ40 with a clear focus on classic styling, modern performance, and timeless utility. Click here for more information.