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Toyota Mega Cruiser
A Toyota Mega Cruiser BXD20 used by the Japanese-Air Self Defense Forces at Hamamatsu Air Base.
Overview
Manufacturer Toyota
Production1995–2001
3,000 produced
AssemblyJapan: Gifu ( Gifu Auto Body) [1]
Body and chassis
Class Full-size SUV
Body style4-door SUV
Layout Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine4.1L 15B-FTE I4 ( turbo-diesel)
Transmission4-speed Aisin A443F automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,395 mm (133.7 in)
Length5,090 mm (200.4 in)
Width2,170 mm (85.4 in)
Height2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Curb weight2,850 kg (6,283 lb)

The Toyota Mega Cruiser ( Japanese: トヨタ・メガクルーザー, Toyota Megakurūzā) is a large, heavy-duty four-wheel-drive SUV introduced by Toyota in 1995. As the largest 4WD vehicle ever built by Toyota, its design resembles that of the Humvee and Hummer H1. [2]

Like the Humvee, the Mega Cruiser was originally designed primarily for military use [3] with the vehicle seeing duty as a transport vehicle in the Japan Self Defense Forces (see ja:高機動車). [4]

Sold exclusively in Japan via Toyota Store locations, the Mega Cruiser was also used by prefectural police, the Japan Auto Federation and fire/rescue departments. [2] As of 2020, it was reported that Toyota had produced 3,000 units before production was halted. [3] [5] A total of 133 Mega Cruisers were sold to civilians. [6]

History

A prototype of the Toyota Mega Cruiser was first presented to the public at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show in October 1993. [7] [2] Production began in late 1995 [8] at Toyota's Gifu Auto Body subsidiary [1] before sales began in 1996. [2]

All Mega Cruiser production was reported to have been halted in 2001 [2] while sales officially ended in 2002. [1] [9] The reason being slow sales due to strict vehicle taxes and Japan having a lot of narrow streets. [8]

Some Mega Cruisers were sold overseas from Japan as grey imports. [10]

Development

The Mega Cruiser was designed as a 4-door full-size SUV and features a 4.1 L turbo diesel inline-4 engine. [4] [6] The engine was rated at 114 kW (153 hp) and 382 N⋅m (282 lb⋅ft) of torque at 1,800 rpm [11] while also being very robust. [1] A 4-speed Aisin-Warner automatic transmission with a two-speed transfer case transfers power to all four wheels. [6]

Its wheelbase is 3,395 mm (134 in) and it is 5,090 mm (200 in) in length. The vehicle is 2,075 mm (82 in) high and 2,170 mm (85 in) wide. It has a load capacity of 600 kg and has a curb weight of 2,850 kg (6,283 lb). [12] The SUV featured front, center, and rear differential locks, as well as four wheel steering. It has a central tire pressure system installed as an optional feature [6] and has a hardtop roof. [1] The Mega Cruiser has seats for two people in front and four people at the back. [6]

The vehicle was intended to test designs that would eventually make their way into mass-produced Toyota SUVs, such as the Land Cruiser, but was financially unsuccessful for Toyota. [3]

While the Mega Cruiser was produced by Toyota in RHD configuration, [13] a few were reported to be made in LHD configuration. [14] As of 2020, around 12 were known to have been produced in LHD. [15]

Variants

Mega Cruiser (BXD10)

Toyota Mega Cruiser (BXD10)

The BXD10 version was made for military purposes such as personnel and military equipment transportation. [4] [8] In JSDF service it was called High Mobility Vehicle, or HMV. [16]

Missile launcher (BXD10)

Missile launcher variant

A modified BXD10 mounting the Type 93 Surface-to-air missile, produced by Toshiba Heavy Industries.[ citation needed]

Mega Cruiser (BXD20)

Toyota Mega Cruiser BXD20

The BXD20 version was made for civilian sales and was available with two roof types, the standard low roof and the optional high roof. [14] Some BXD20 versions also saw service as military vehicles [4] [10] while others were used by prefectural police/fire departments and the Japanese Armed Forces.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Toyota Mega Cruiser: 25 years of the daddy of SUVs". UK: Toyota. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Shimizu Michiaki. "GM・ハマーH1" [GM/Hummer H1] (PDF). Japan: Toyota. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Welham, Ben (2019). "Here's why the Toyota Mega Cruiser is better than a Hummer". Drive Tribe. UK. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Sarne, Vernon B. (21 November 2014). "Toyota Mega Cruiser is the only Japanese surplus vehicle we want". Top Gear. The Philippines. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  5. ^ Gold, Aaron (9 November 2019). "Toyota Mega Cruiser: Did You Know Toyota Made a Hummer H1 Lookalike?". Automobile. US. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e Gilboy, James (31 December 2019). "The 1995 Toyota Mega Cruiser, King of Off-Roaders, Is Legal to Import in 2020". The Drive.
  7. ^ "History of Gifu Auto Body". Gifu Auto Body Co., Ltd.
  8. ^ a b c "Toyota's Mega Cruiser Is An Ultra-Rare Hummer Rival". Boss Hunting. 17 April 2019.
  9. ^ Kobasa, Peter. "The Toyota Mega Cruiser is the Twenty-Year-Old Japanese Behemoth You Have Never Heard Of" (PDF). 4.files.edl.io. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b Finkel, Max (16 April 2020). "The Toyota Mega Cruiser Is 25 Years Old. You Know What That Means". Jalopnik. US. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  11. ^ Golden, Conner (24 August 2017). "Just Listed: 1998 Toyota Mega Cruiser". Automobile Magazine. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Toyota Introduces the Mega Cruiser". Toyota. 9 January 1996. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. ^ "The Toyota Mega Cruiser is the ultimate Japanese SUV". Top Gear. Singapore. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. ^ a b "In 2020, You'll Be Able to Import Japan's Hummer, the Toyota Mega Cruiser". Motor Biscuit. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Toyota Mega Cruiser Is Japan's Off-Road Dinosaur You Can Now Import In The US". Carscoops. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  16. ^ "高機動車" (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 January 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toyota Mega Cruiser.
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