Sometimes we’d like to box Toyota for giving us a taste of the distinctive FJ Cruiser in South Africa so late in the day and then taking it away so abruptly. Yes, the current Toyota FJ Cruiser will be the last of the breed and when production runs itself to a close, that’s it, no more FJ Cruiser.
This is why awe-inspiring limited editions from South Africa’s mega-tuners, RGMotorsport, are a viable way to ensure the Toyota FJ Cruiser doesn’t fade away from memory. What RGMotorsport does is supercharge the FJ Cruiser’s 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine and let the VBOX-verified tests conducted on the Reef speak for themselves: 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds, 0 – 120 km/h in 9.7 seconds and a standing km in 28 seconds. Thanks to a power output of 330 kW and 550 Nm of torque, this 1 960 kg beast has a power-to-weight ratio of 170 kW per ton (compared to 102 kW in standard form).
But few people will be buying FJ Cruisers for their robot racing ability and impressive as these figures are, the RGM FJ’s improved ‘cruisability’ and overtaking is what really stands out. The RGM development vehicle was tested in standard form, managing 60 to 100 km/h and 80 to 120 km/h in 5.5 and 6.7 seconds respectively but with a Vortech blower in place those figures plummet to 3.8 and 4.5 seconds. The RGM FJ Cruiser tops out at 233 km/h, a figure well up on the standard model’s governed 175 km/h top speed.
Like all of RGMotorsport’s road car conversions, the crucial objective is to enhance performance without compromise. While the conversion is a bolt-on, thorough research and development is part of the process. For example, the conversion incorporates a dedicated cooling system which lowers the intake temperature significantly via an air-to-water intercooler.
This ‘chargecooler’ is the secret to making consistent horsepower irrespective of operating conditions. Each engine is also fitted with a Unichip piggyback computer, enabling a skilled operator to tailor the engine’s electronics on a rolling road dynamometer for the best mix of performance and fuel efficiency.
A complete Supercharged conversion to an FJ Cruiser costs R89 000, including a comprehensive six month and 20 000 km warranty (upgradeable to three years/100 000 km). Visit their website: www.rgmotorsport.com for more.
