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The Toyota LandCruiser FJ might have just been revealed in Indonesia, with the Japanese brand ripping the covers off the HiLux Champ Rangga.
It is unclear whether or not the Champ Rangga will become the LandCruiser FJ, or the rumoured more affordable Fortuner, or if both vehicles are one and the same.
What we do know, though, is that Champ Rangga as we see it here appears destined for markets like Indonesia and India, and it's unlikely to get pulses racing in Australia.
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That's owing mostly to the engine. Exact power figures are hard to come by, but given it's powered by a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine and six-speed automatic, the Rangga is unlikely to out-power the Australian-spec HiLux and Fortuner.
It is well-equipped, with the Rangga featuring LED headlights, LED DRLs, and tiny 16-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there's a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with dual-zone climate control.
If this is the LandCruiser FJ, it's little surprise Toyota in Australia was a little cold on the idea, with the one of the brand's senior executives telling CarsGuide that he doesn't "go to bed at night wanting a smaller LandCruiser".
"Look, it may [happen] in the future. Because you know… we're going through a great transition in the automotive industry. You never rule stuff out," said Toyota Australia's VP of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley.
“Is there a product plan for it that I'm aware of in Australia? No.”
It's also possible that this cheaper Champ-based Fortuner is a different beast to the LandCruiser FJ, which was rumoured to be unveiled in November.
The most recent reports pointed to that model scoring the latest HiLux powertrain, which pairs the dependable 2.8-litre turbo-diesel with 48-volt hybrid technology – though the latter is intended to marginally lower fuel use, rather than supply any extra grunt.
If that's true, then we could take a pretty educated guess at its outputs, with that powertrain — in HiLux form, at least — delivering 150kW and 500Nm. What's more, it's tow-ready, too, with most HiLux variants rated to 3500kg braked.
Other reports have pointed to Toyota readying several models in the same family, with the entry-level FJ to be followed by hybrid, plug-in hybrid and BEV versions.
Whether all models would share the same name remains to be seen, with Toyota yet to officially comment on the rumours, with the reports all unverified so far.
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