Extreme could mean a lot of different things but one thing is for sure. It crosses the line of comfort and heads on to face any challenge with pride. Such is the story of Ajay Sikri and his Toyota FJ Cruiser “Xtreme”. A little bit unassuming on the looks department, this beast can fend for itself in the middle of the desert. And in Ajay’s masterful hands, the extreme has reached another level of extreme.
1. Tell us a little background story about the car.
The FJ Cruiser Xtreme is an upgrade on the stock FJ, undertaken jointly by Al Futtaim Motors and Arctic Trucks. The upgrades focus on enhancing the off-road capabilities of the car. Having driven long wheelbase models, I had been hearing about the Xtreme version for the past two to three years and have received good feedback from fellow off-roaders about it. While I had modified my earlier off-road rides, namely a Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser, this time I decided to take the basic modifications as a package that comes out of the Al Futtaim and Arctic Trucks duo after a prototype testing.
2. Could you tell us all about the modifications that were made? Performance and cosmetic-wise?
There are a couple of modifications that came with the package but I plan on giving it my own personal touches by adding more parts that fit my preferences. Modifications include:
Performance: Heavy-duty Fox suspension, Catback exhaust, Hood Scoop, smaller (16”) heavy-duty rims, BFGoodrich off-road tyres, heavy-duty skid-plate, rear hitch receiver/recovery point
Safety/Driving comfort: LED Driving lights, off-road flag, blind spot and cross traffic detector
Cosmetic: Matt black package, Bushwacker Fender Flares
2. Do you have something that you would consider to be a “special feature” of your car?
A-Trac and Crawl Control. The A-Trac has been an established feature of the FJ ever since its launch in 2007, the Crawl Control has been a recent addition to this car and it enhances the effectiveness of the recovery effort. I distinctively remember the first time when I used it. I was in the middle of the Liwa desert and got caught at a very soft patch in a shallow bowl of sand. The sand was so soft that the FJ was down to its chassis. That’s where, I thought of testing this feature, and activated it. With the crawl control working, I could guide the car out of the soft patch within a few minutes. If I didn’t have this feature onboard, I guess I would have required a strong snatch or a winch recovery.
3. What were your other options before you bought this car?
The Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Xterra – since all three are very decent small/mid-sized off-roaders, It wasn’t an easy choice, especially with a wide price-differential between the three. After a careful analysis, I settled down for the FJ over the Wrangler due to better ride comfort; more boot space; superior engine and overall Toyota assurance of reliability. The Nissan Xterra would also have given me these to an extent, but even its “off-road” version is no match to what an FJ Xtreme offers.
4. How do you spend time with the car?
We are good company for each other once we get off the road. I have had this car only for three months now, so on most weekends, I have taken it to the sands in the UAE and Oman. As the weather turns warmer, the FJ will take me to cooler wadis and the Jebels of Oman for wadi bashing, hiking and similar adventures.
5. How often do you use your car?
This is my regular ride to work these days, but it’s put to quality use over the weekends.
6. Any future modifications that you are planning?
No mechanical modifications planned immediately, but I plan to add a few comfort and conveniences like a rear storage locker; more driving lights and probably a winch.
7. What 4×4 do you dream of owning?
Mercedes Benz G Class AMG 6×6
Name: Ajay Sikri
Nationality: Indian
Occupation: Vice President at Damac
Ride: 2016 Toyota FJ Cruiser Xtreme
