Toyota HiLux Champ, baby LandCruiser FJ among top models ruled out for Australia

Australians hoping to order a LandCruiser FJ or HiLux Champ from their local Toyota dealership may not get that chance.

The FJ compact off-roader, known as the ‘Baby LandCruiser’, and the HiLux Champ ute – also sold as the HiLux Rangga in Indonesia – are among several models that have been ruled out for sale in Australia by Toyota.

Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations chief Sean Hanley has shut down any chance of the LandCruiser FJ – which is built on the same platform as the HiLux Champ – being sold here in its current form.

“You won’t see the FJ, okay, that I can categorically say… under the current specifications of that vehicle – that was built mainly for Asia,” Mr Hanley told CarExpert.

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“Unfortunately, the powertrain in that vehicle will not meet Euro 6 [emissions] standards – it’s got nothing to do with NVES [New Vehicle Efficiency Standard], it’s actually Euro 6 [emissions regulations]. So, we cannot bring that in under that engine,” he said.

“Now, if in some period of time that engine changes, where it is Euro 6-compliant, that would be a different proposition [for] Australia.

“But right now, FJ – no-go zone.”

Mr Hanley also ruled out the HiLux Champ from joining the company’s commercial vehicle lineup.

While a HiLux Champ was recently spied in Australia,CarExpert can confirm that particular vehicle was imported by Ford’s engineering department for evaluation.

Industry rumours also suggest there may be several HiLux Champ utes in the country to prepare the model for local sale by Toyota Australia – but the company has denied the claims, saying there is no chance of the small ute being added to its local range.

Similarly, Mr Hanley says there’s no chance of the Toyota Crown making a return to Australia.

After an almost four-decade absence – having last been sold in Australia by Toyota in 1988 – the latest Crown isn’t currently under consideration.

“Crown – no, no, no,” Mr Hanley said, ruling out the model, which is available to buy in Japan as a sedan, wagon, SUV, and SUV ‘coupe’.

However, Mr Hanley did confirm to CarExpert the plug-in hybrid Prius is being reconsidered for local release, along with the ultra-luxury Century brand – which may be sold by Lexus dealerships in the future.

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