Toyota Tj Cruiser concept previews crossover for the apocalypse

Maybe it's a sign of the uncertain world we currently live in (hello, incipient nuclear apocalypse) but automakers can't stop imagining beefy trucks perfect for escaping burning cities or ramming through zombie hordes. Toyota is joining the club with the Tj Cruiser concept, "a new van and fusion genre" that targets crossover buyers. The goal is flexibility, which is pretty important when all the potable water is tainted and you need to raid the abandoned Walmart down the block.

The name, in typical concept fashion, is a contraction. The "T" stands for "toolbox", a reference to the flexibility of the cabin, while the "j" stands for "joy". Toyota says in this case it's the joy of visiting places in a car. Finally, "Cruiser" has been well used in Toyota's SUV range, and "expresses the power of the vehicle" the automaker says.

Sensibly, Toyota's designers started with the most basic – and flexible – shape, so the Tj Cruiser concept is squared off like a utilitarian van. The hood, roof, and bumpers are coated with a scratch- and dirt-resistant material to shake off highway grime and parking lot dings alike. It sits high up, on 225/50/R20 wheels.

Inside the focus on space and flexibility continues. The front and rear passenger seats recline completely, leaving room for items more than 9 ft 10 long. Toyota says that'll be handy for surfboards, but you could also stack up plenty of lengths of firewood for when the grid goes down.

The seat-backs and deck boards have tie-down points for lashing cargo into place, while the seat cushion on the passenger seat behind the driver flips up to make a little cubby for smaller items to help avoid them sliding around. The rear hatch is extra-tall and wide, and there are sliding side doors.

Although concepts typically don't give much thought to propulsion, the Tj Cruiser is different. It's based on Toyota's next-generation TNGA platform, with a 2.0-liter gas engine and hybrid system. Toyota says it could offer either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants.

Will that actually happen? As always, there's no solid confirmation whether this concept has an eye on dealership availability. The fact that Toyota has given so much consideration to the practical underpinnings does suggest it's more than a simple design study, mind, and the crossover space is one of the still-blooming parts of the auto industry that the company could do worse than play in. We'll hopefully find out more when the Tj Cruiser concept makes its official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017 later this month.