Ragtop EV Cruiser
Inverted branches out into Toyota’s 4WD model range
Building on its electric conversion work with Range Rovers, Inverted is now expanding its retrofit conversion work to Toyota’s Land Cruiser.
Well-heeled off-road enthusiasts can now buy expertly restored, electricpowered vintage 40 series Land Cruisers.
Inverted builds custom 53kWh battery packs and motors into vintage Land Cruiser variants including the FJ40 short wheelbase, FJ43 middle wheelbase, and FJ45 long wheelbase.
Inverted EV Founder Harry Millington says the company stays true to the essence of Land Cruiser’s old school 4WD.
Inverted says its custom Land Cruisers are engineered to eliminate the drawbacks that can come with driving a vintage truck, including poor performance, reliability issues and in the case of soft tops, the risk of exhaust fumes entering the cab.
Inverted meticulously strips the vintage bodies and chassis down to bare metal. Through a comprehensive top-down restoration process, Inverted redesigns each vintage Land Cruiser to meet the preferences of each client, consulting on every detail.
“The people who are ordering these vehicles each have their own vision of what they want to do, whether they want to jack it up and put some big wheels on it or keep it close to original. The beauty of this is you can have a short wheelbase, long wheelbase or one in between. Hard top, soft top, or a pickup truck. There are loads of different versions of them and they’re all really cool,” said Mr Millington.
Inverted transforms the classic Land Cruiser by reimagining the vehicle as an electric powered rig with a 53kWh battery pack and a 160kW electric motor. The electric motor runs through the original transmission which means the FJ can start in any gear, with varying levels of torque. The system preserves the original’s off-road capabilities with clients able to switch between 4WD and 2WD modes.
The rebuild includes upgraded Old Man Emu suspension and front and rear disc brakes from Toyota or Wilwood.
Inverted will build FJ models in either left-hand drive or right-hand drive versions.
The modified Land Cruisers are fitted with CCS rapid charging ports with up to 75kW capability, allowing for 20 per cent to 80 per cent charging in about 25 minutes with a maximum vehicle range of up to 150 miles.
The seats and door cards are finished in leather and there is a custom center console.
Modern amenities include Apple CarPlay, a powerful sound system, LED lights, reversing camera and air conditioning. Customers can choose from various body styles including hardtop, station wagon, pickup, or soft top.