Innehållsförteckning för Issue #4 från ENGAGE4X4

The much-loved special-appearance package from the 1990s is making a comeback: reimagined for today and starting with the 2022 Ford Ranger Splash Package. Chad Callandar — Ford Ranger Marketing Manager — said: “Ranger customers love to personalize their trucks — more than 80 percent customize their Ranger with an appearance package; and, with Splash, we’re giving them something exclusive. Every few months, we’re going to roll out another exterior color for Ranger which will be offered one time only and in very limited quantities.” Splash will come in two styles: the Splash Package and Splash Limited Edition. The Splash Package will be available all model year and comes with body-side orange and black graphics and special 18-inch 12-spoke wheels which are finished in matte black. Ranger Splash includes orange grille…

New Product Range The fifth-generation lineup includes the Grand Cherokee 4xe, the first electrified Grand Cherokee, and the new Trailhawk – the Ultimate 4x4 Grand Cherokee. This new generation brings an all-new architecture, new plug-in hybrid powertrain, all-new exterior design, and all-new interior. After more than seven-million sales worldwide, the most acclaimed SUV ever continues to set the standard among all SUVs. Jim Morrison, Vice President of the Jeep Brand North America, said: “Customers have come to depend on and enjoy their Grand Cherokee for four generations. We have taken their input into making the most-awarded SUV of all time even better for the fifth generation.” The newest iteration has been designed and engineered to deliver even more of what has made this Jeep SUV a true global icon in…

If you happened to find yourself wandering around in a Middle Eastern desert and a slightly-scruffy-looking group of heavily-armed men drove up to you in a bright-pink Land Rover, you would be forgiven for thinking that heat stroke had finally got the better of you! As unlikely as this scenario may sound, it has actually happened to a significant number of people over the past few decades: many of whom are no longer with us for reasons which will become increasingly clear as this article unfolds… You see, the heavily-armed men in the strange pink Land Rover were SAS operatives — legendary British Special Forces Soldiers — and, if they happened to stumble onto you out in the middle of an Arabian desert, you can rest assured it almost certainly…

Sensing the potential for appeal to the public, Toyota developed the civilian BXD20 Mega Cruiser. In addition to serving as a flagship 4x4, the Mega Cruiser was to serve as a test bed for technology which was supposed to trickle down to Land Cruiser and other Toyota trucks; but the project never got that far. Only 149 were built and all were sold in Japan between 1996 and 2002. This Mega Cruiser is a 1996 model and is, essentially, factory original. It is number 17 of 149. The previous owner took the liberty of removing the badges and “Mega Cruiser” stickers from the sides and rear hatch; then, installed an aftermarket head unit, along with a few other electronic items. The roof rack is thought to be an after-market accessory.…

This Toyota Blizzard features a removable hard top, fender-mounted mirrors, and uniquely-shaped doors. Blizzards are rare vehicles with less than a dozen known examples in North America. The LD10 Blizzard was launched in 1980 and is based on the Daihatsu Taft (also known as the Scat). In 1984, it was replaced with the LD20 — based on the Daihatsu Rugger. The Blizzard was intended only for the Japanese domestic market. The LD10 Blizzard is equipped with the naturally-aspirated 2.2-liter diesel engine. They were coupled to a Toyota four-speed manual transmission, while 1983-plus models came with a five-speed.…

Building on the capability of the Canyon AT4, the concept further elevates Canyon’s off-road credibility by showing how it could be customized for an overlanding enthusiast. The Canyon AT4 Concept truck was designed for overlanding enthusiasts with exceptional capability features: factory lifted, wide off-road chassis with enhanced under-body coverage, off-road rocker-panel protectors, cast-iron control arms, heavy-duty front bumper, integrated front-recovery points, front and rear electronic-locking differentials, wheel flares with integrated task lamps, Multimatic DSSVTM dampers, spare-tire swivel mount — so a spare tire can be kept on the back of the truck and swivel out of the way of the tailgate when bed access is needed. Fitted with GMC’s 3.6-liter V6 engine and mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the concept truck could confidently handle a variety of obstacles encountered…

SVR Ultimate edition from SV Bespoke Special Vehicle Operations has launched a special-edition Range Rover Sport SVR with spectacular new solid-glass flake-paint-work options for the first time. Featuring a selection of exclusive paint-color combinations and tailored interior detailing by the SV Bespoke Vehicle Personalization team, the 575PS Range Rover Sport SVR Ultimate edition enhances the visual appeal of the fastest and most-powerful vehicle in the Land-Rover family. Three hand-finished exterior-paint choices include new Gloss Maya Blue and Gloss Marl Gray colors: both of which are exclusive to the Ultimate edition. Delicate highly-reflective fine-white glass flake particles in the solid base coat give an intense star-like sparkle. A third option — for a more-stealthy look — is Satin Ligurian Black. Each color features a Gloss Narvik Black contrast roof. The SV…

A whole day. The breeze. The beautiful views. The aching muscles. One foot, and one hand, in front of the other. Working as a team, but also needing to be competent independently. Problem solving and adventuring simultaneously. Climbing to where no human has ever been, only the wild birds and insects. The mountain can be smooth or jaggad, high or short, easy or difficulr; but always epic. And sometimes, “the descent is more memorable than the climb”. Nate Stephens is a full-time traveler who lives through photography, hiking, climbing, books, and magic. He said: “Man, I love climbing … The ultimate combination of exciting adventure, friendship, and playing outside … It’s hard to leave, seeing amazing mountains every day and being in a new amazing city every month. It’s a…

The Rover is not just a vehicle: For me, it has been my home for almost two years. By no means is it a luxurious lifestyle, but the freedom is unbeatable; and, after daily driving the Rover for a handful of years, I knew it was reliable enough to handle the changing tides. Life in the Rover started about two years ago, when I ditched the old roof tent off my 1991 Range Rover Classic and started renovating the inside. Little did I know that this was the best thing I could have done to make things more practical: freeing up space for a cargo box and more surf boards on the roof. With some help from a friend, a table saw, and a pile of scrap wood — combined…

Toyota’s Jeep BJ was the answer to a 1950 tender for military off-roaders with the onset of the Korean war. While the prototype — mirroring the Willys version — was not taken on by the American army, it found favor with Japan’s National Police agency: especially, after a trial run high up the slopes of Mount Fuji. Missing out on the United-States-defence contract spurred Toyota to further development on the BJ with an eye on future commercial and export possibilities. The Toyota off-roader’s volume production began in 1953 with versions including a fire-engine chassis and the BJ-T (for B-engined Jeep Touring); those original BJs ran with a 3.4-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine producing 84 horsepower and with part-time four-wheel-drive. A year later, a Toyota Technical Director came up with Land Cruiser…

The 2021-calendar year has been a momentous period for the Jeep Wrangler: Starting early in the year with the introduction of the first electrified Jeep in North America — the Wrangler 4xe — and the first V8-powered Wrangler in almost 40 years — the Wrangler Rubicon 392. Now Jeep has bolstered the Wrangler’s legendary 4x4 capability and go-anywhere attitude with the 2022 Wrangler Willys and the Xtreme Recon 35-inch-tire package. Priced at a United-States manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $39,435 (plus $1,495 destination charge), the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Willys with the Xtreme Recon Package includes 17-inch-by-eight-inch beadlock-capable wheels riding on LT315/70R17C (35-inch) BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. A 1.5-inch factory suspension lift with uniquely-tuned shocks, 4.6:1 axle ratio and anti-lock four-wheel-disc performance brakes. Fitted with a standard black grille,…

The International Harvester Scout was the precursor to the modern SUV: taking inspiration from the rugged and minimalist Willys Jeeps — that were created for use in World War II — and adding a few more features and comforts for daily use. The early Scout 80 and 800 models were still fairly-spartan machines by today’s standards. By the third generation, the Scout II had implemented a level of refinement and modern technology into their new chassis: resulting in a relatively-comfortable and, more importantly, capable vehicle. Greg’s grandfather, Grandpa Doc, used his Scout exactly as the Designers envisioned: During the week, he would drive it for a short half-a-mile commute to and from work; come the weekend, it doubled as a hunting vehicle — Grandpa Doc had no qualms about throwing…

Winslow Bent loves a truck with a tall tale, an old workhorse with a yarn to tell. And these days Legacy Classic Trucks turn out immaculate re-worked heroes from the past — each one ready to serve again. Winslow sees trucks — like his renown Dodge Power Wagons — as pragmatic problem solvers; and, for the past ten years, he has been putting all manner of working classics back on the road: He will tackle any project with a cool story! Gently sanding the hood and doors from a World War II Dodge Carryall, Winslow begins to see white letters, military markings which indicate where the vehicle was stationed after the war. He sands some more and smaller blue numbers appear: marking this Dodge as having served on the frontlines…

This Land Cruiser tow truck was used by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). JAF is a public-service organization dedicated to providing motorists services which enhance their safety and security while promoting the smooth flow of traffic. In 1967, Toyota created the J5: a series of vehicles with a different design than J4 Land Cruisers. The J5s were not meant to be workhorses. They were comfortable and stylish, while maintaining the indestructible reputation which had been earned by previous models. While the Land Cruiser was already an icon throughout the world, it was the J5 which became a major phenomenon in the States. Its off-road capabilities made it the vehicle of choice for many families who wanted to explore while camping or hiking.…

Back in the 1990s, Toyota’s head honchos — out to attract younger customers to the brand — settled on the idea of a retro-style four-wheel-drive. LA-based Jonathan Ward — already known for restoring old Land Cruisers through his business TLC — was commissioned by Toyota’s Mr Toyada to build a feasible prototype after the fashion of veteran FJ models. The TLC machines used a Bandeiranta body from Brazil, parked atop a stretched FJ45 chassis with this tan version in the museum running a six-liter GM V8. (The original Toyota Bandeirantas were versions of FJ Series models built from the 1960s through to 2000, most with Mercedes-Benz diesel engines and some with unique bodies, such as this four-door pick-up, for Brazil only.) While TLC’s concepts did not make it into production…