Why did you put a Toyota logo on a Hummer? This question was asked to the owner Mega Cruiser more than once already. But in fact, there is not much in common between these two military SUVs. The American HUMVEE (later called Hummer H1) went into production...
The American HUMVEE (later called the Hummer H1) went to mass production in 1983, and Toyota rolled out its Mega Cruiser almost ten years later. For this reason alone, the Yankees say that the treacherous samurai brazenly stole the concept of their military SUV. Maybe it was so, but the Japanese added a killer seasoning to the American Big Mac - rotary rear wheels. Therefore, a car whose length is 5090 mm has a turning radius of 5.6 m.
It should immediately be clarified that Mega Cruiser was produced in military and civilian versions. Military versions were not eligible for export from Japan or sale to private individuals. When the time came for decommissioning, they were simply released under pressure. But it was possible to export civilian modifications, but only in used form. Their main difference from the military versions was hidden in the cabin, where there were soft mats on the floor, velor seats, electrical accessories with minimal necessary set options and dual-zone air conditioning.
LIVING LEGEND
This Mega Cruiser is not the first of those that came to Russia at one time. Currently, there is another similar SUV with Vladivostok registration. And in the same area there is a legend about another specimen, which at the beginning of the century caught the eye of the Japanese consul, and since they were then prohibited for export, it was cut into pieces. But these parts were allegedly transported to Ukraine or Kazakhstan, where they were reassembled running car. And then he was drowned in some bottomless swamps.
According to unofficial information, 140 civilian modifications were produced. The same Mega Cruiser that we tested, identification number 137th, well, the year of its release is 1999.
MILITARY BACKS
In the cabin, the previous Japanese owner only added a bed in the trunk. To do this, in the space between wheel arches a quick-detachable iron structure was installed, making luggage compartment two-level. And on top of it, four wooden panels with soft upholstery lay in the spacer.
The car is considered a six-seater. Backseat accommodates four people, each of whom is provided with a seat belt. By the way, according to Russian documents, Mega Cruiser is a truck that can only be driven with category C. And this is not a trick to reduce customs duties. Everything is according to the law, after all full mass this frame SUV is 3780 kg, but dry - 2850 kg.
FOUR LITER POTS
The engine is a four-cylinder turbodiesel with a volume of 4.104 liters and a power of 170 hp. With.
belongs to the “Toyota” B family, known for thirty years. It is intercooled and equipped with a standard turbo timer. The engine air intake is located in a recess on the side of the hood. And then there is a system of numerous siphons, so it is difficult to grasp the hydraulic shock - permissible depth fordability 1200 mm.
It is noteworthy that the on-board electrical network is 24-volt. So starting the engine both in cold weather and with oxidized contacts on the power wires - say, after getting wet in salt water - is not a problem. Still military equipment on the island state was originally designed for contact with sea water. This is probably why all silent blocks, hinge joints and crosspieces are equipped with grease fittings.
MATERIAL PART: TOYOTA MEGA CRUISER
CONTINUOUS FULL
The transmission includes a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive modes(shutdown top gear) and starting from second gear. Next comes the transfer case with a reduction ratio of 2.488:1. Since the drive type is Mega Cruiser permanent full then in transfer case there is a differential with forced blocking, activated by a button on the front panel. There are also buttons that control the locking of cross-axle differentials. The inter-wheel lock control mechanism is electric. Well, the most interesting thing about the transmission is the final drives (ratio 1.69:1), thanks to which (and the independent suspension, of course) the ground clearance is 420 mm.
EVERYTHING FOR INDEPENDENCE
Since the main purpose of this car is to travel over rocky terrain with complex terrain, not only ground clearance, but also suspension travel is extremely important for it. The suspension of all wheels is independent torsion bar. The size of the chassis parts is such that they can be used to uproot stones without much risk of damaging anything.
All brake mechanisms ventilated disk. To reduce unsprung masses they are located on drive shafts, and not inside the wheels. Since we tested the civilian version, it did not have centralized wheel inflation. Although the tubes for her were in place.
Not otherwise, in order to complicate the life of Mega Cruiser owners, the standard tires on the car have a tricky dimension of 37x12.5 with a radius of 17.5. Therefore, it is easier to order production rims, say, 18 inches (less is impossible due to final drives) than to find mud tires this size.
EVERYTHING FOR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
Among the features of the body, I would like to note the carbon fiber hood. The spare tire's folding gate is equipped with a convenient cable drive, and a mini winch is provided to lift the spare wheel. In addition, the rear part of the roof above the trunk can be replaced with a higher one. To improve weight distribution, the engine is pushed into the cabin tunnel, and the batteries are hidden in a special isolated compartment under the passenger seat.
COW ON THE STEP
When driving the Mega Cruiser, its dimensions do not bother you. Of course, unlike its American counterpart, there is excellent visibility here. Thanks to the independent suspension, this SUV has a very smooth ride. There is no shaking or pitching in it. Well, the maneuverability is fantastic. With his huge ground clearance, tiny overhangs and all the blocking, he easily and naturally climbed difficult terrain on road tires. I couldn’t even believe that such a carcass was capable of such a thing - it looks about the same as if a cow was gracefully jumping along mountain steeps. As for operation in our conditions, the Vladivostok Mega Cruiser, long used for hard off-roading, has not yet broken down. There is already an answer to the question of consumables and spare parts that interests pragmatists. If something happens, getting spare parts is not a problem, although there is a decent waiting period for delivery.
Against the backdrop of global and equally sad changes in the domestic automotive market This event, although inconspicuous, is definitely bright: just imagine what a rather modest by the standards off-road class the amount of 2.2 million rubles can be purchased through intermediaries Japanese equivalent the legendary Hummer! And, it should be noted, in some ways the Japanese military school of automobile manufacturing still managed to outdo the American one.
As for the name of the model, everything is not so clear. The memorable name Mega Cruiser belongs to the civilian, “ennobled” version of the military SUV: the model was produced in small series. The name "Megacruiser", which belonged to civilian version, began to be called military versions.
But the official name (Toyota BXD10) does not really suit our test subject, because legally this is not “Toyota” at all... Here our guys have already shown their ingenuity: they supply SUVs Russian company“Expedit”, whose name in the PTS was inherited by “Megacruiser”. However, the pattern of transfer of a model from one country to another partially overlaps with other “Japanese” cars that end up in the Far East in the form of a “cut”: in order to reduce the amount of duty and the final price, SUVs that served in the Japanese army from 1995 to 2002 are now supplied to us in the form of vehicle kits, and here they are transformed back into functional means of transportation. The tested sample, for example, ran no more than 70 thousand km. And this, according to the organizers, is the maximum figure - some copies are delivered without any mileage at all. Anyone can buy such equipment, but to operate it...
Since it was quite problematic for importers to register such a device as a passenger car, they decided to register it as a “snow and swamp-going vehicle.” The quotation marks here are not accidental, because before such an honorable title, this transport clearly lacks positive buoyancy. Therefore, as you understand, on some roads common use this means of transportation is prohibited: you can move anywhere, with the exception of highways, as well as roads with signs “Movement of passenger cars” and “Movement of tractors is prohibited.” And, of course, to drive a newly-made swamp vehicle, you only need a “tractor” license.
But the most interesting thing is inside. Question for experts: tell me, dear jeepers, what are the signs of a real SUV? Dependent suspension with continuous bridges? Kondovy frame body? Mechanical box gears? Japanese military engineers will not agree with you - the military cruiser sports a completely independent suspension, classic automatic machine and the almost weightless plastic-metal tail of the frame. Plagiarism of His Majesty Hummer H1? Not quite: if under the wide muzzle American SUV What immediately catches your eye are the protruding thick suspension arms resting on springs, while here in front there are more compact double A-shaped “bones” and invisible torsion bars. Rear - similar double levers, but already complete with springs. But in general there is a similarity with the Hummer: here, just like the American, to increase ground clearance and gear ratio Inside the wheels there are final drives, to which CV joints from the axle gearboxes fit. Due to the fact that they take up a fair amount of space, they are ventilated brake discs with calipers are placed closer to the bridges - this, by the way, reduces unsprung masses, and the mechanisms themselves become less dirty.
The wheels, by the way, are also unusual here - find suitable tires with a dimension of 37x12.5R17.5 it will be oh so difficult... Fortunately, our compatriots managed to find an analogue: “Shishigovsky” 18th wheels with slightly bored holes and standard tires fits Toyota perfectly. Thanks to these tricks, the Japanese managed to achieve a colossal ground clearance of 42 cm (the Hummer is even 1.5 cm less). Also, all versions are equipped with centralized wheel inflation (there are only 2 positions - 2.2 or 1.1 atm), thanks to which you can seriously increase the already considerable contact patch of the tires with the coating, and in case of a puncture, reach the “base” without a spare wheel. Concerning power units, then everything is also in order here: hidden under the hood is a rather large 4.1-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (index 15B-FTE), which was installed mainly on Toyota medium-duty trucks and buses, and the gearbox is a four-speed automatic from Land Cruiser 80. Both instill confidence.
But that's not all. Perhaps, main feature our “warrior” - thruster rear axle, which is driven by power steering. Thus, the turning radius of the 5-meter monster is a modest 5.6 meters - almost like some Ford Focus! Spins on slippery surface“Japanese”, like a top, is almost there. Lighter, more maneuverable and more power-packed, it would seem that the 200 is slightly inferior to its military counterpart in terms of drive on ice: after turning off the traction control, although it allows you to “fall” sideways, it does so clearly without enthusiasm.
The above design tricks allowed our hero to gain amazing geometric parameters: Approach/departure angles are 49 and 45 degrees. The “civilized” Toyota standing nearby seemed to have transformed from a once formidable and terrible monster into a harmless creature: almost half the ground clearance and “pathetic” 32 and 24 degrees. Although overall dimensions, and in terms of weight, the military SUV turned out to be not as larger as expected: the “Megacruiser” is larger than the “200” on all fronts by an average of 15–20 cm and is heavier by only 200 kg (2900 kg). Such a low weight for this type of equipment was achieved thanks to compact suspensions, minimal external cladding and the absence of interior decoration body
However, in the snow cross-country test, in our case, the Megacruiser did not look like a favorite - our colleagues even managed to plant it in a seemingly harmless place. The point, of course, is that it does not correspond to our weather conditions rubber: there are quite worn out AT tires here, still remembering the land of the Land of the Rising Sun. In order to confidently move through heavy “warm” snow, we had to activate all three locks - one inter-axle and two inter-wheel. Having in his arsenal only one tough interaxle blocking and a whole set electronic assistants, the 200th, shod with studded Yokohama, plowed through the open spaces much more confidently, although collecting snowdrifts with its front bumper like a bulldozer.
But in an “equal battle” on normal wheels, the mega-opponent, of course, will not allow himself to be offended. But if everything is more or less clear with loose soil, then how will it behave on relief terrain? After all, as you know, independent suspension a priori has worse articulation than completely pavement. Arriving home, I plunged into studying the issue: according to test data, the total travel of the Megacruiser’s suspensions was 650 mm, which is, to put it mildly, an impressive figure. For comparison, the pavement legend of the English off-road school in the person of “Defender” has a figure of 545 mm, and our today’s Japanese opponent, the Land Cruiser 200 with its colossal articulation, almost caught up with the “warrior” with a result of 600 mm. The shorter-travel Hummer suspension, designed for a larger load, cannot boast of such characteristics: the suspension travel of the standard Hummer H1 is only 435 mm.
Comparing the “Megacruiser” on public roads with the LC 200 would be completely against the rules, both in terms of ideology and the legality of the event - no one has “tractor” rights... But, judging by the country roads, driving Toyota BXD10 is not particularly more complicated than the classic Land Cruiser. Among the amenities here, of course, are an automatic transmission and power steering, but in terms of ease of control, sense of size and high-torque power of the engine, the Megacruiser does not look inferior at all. It just shakes more on bumps and there are more noises of various natures in the cabin - after all, and passengers are separated from the outside world only by an awning and thin body panels.
As for asceticism, here it is, perhaps, raised to the highest degree - everything in a military vehicle should be simple, functional, but at the same time maintainable and reliable. The contrast with modern civilian cars is especially noticeable after you change into the Megacruiser from the light leather interior of the 200...
However, all the design elements in the Megacruiser are made so thoughtfully and elegantly that it is confusing at first. The weightless plastic hood, for example, is fastened on both sides with simple but convenient hinges; Although the doors are equipped with primitive “master keys,” they open (and close!) with a slight movement of the hand... And the solution used for window lifters will move the owners of UAZ “goats” to tears: you pull the spring-loaded bushing on the door and lower it with it glass down. Convenient as hell! The driving position, of course, cannot be compared with the luxurious interior of the LC 200: due to the wide tunnel on the floor, in which the transmission elements are hidden, you have to sit quite close to the door; A steering wheel and moved too far from the seat. But if we compare with veterans of the military genre (the same Defender or main competitor represented by HMMWV), then the military Toyota looks like just a model of ergonomics.
However, passengers, unlike the pilot and navigator, may have a hard time traveling at speed over rough terrain: folding benches that can accommodate eight more volunteers in the back are located along the side and, naturally, are not equipped with belts. But if the benches are folded, the Megacruiser turns into a full-fledged truck.
Prospects
Could anyone be interested in such a highly specialized technique? In Russia the target audience there will definitely be one. Mainly among travelers - such a device is perfect for building, for example, a camper from scratch. After all, today there are not many serious alternatives. Yes, production of the 70 series Land Cruisers was resumed (you can order it through “gray” dealers), and today it is still one of the most popular and successful blanks for building an expedition vehicle. True, the price of such a car, albeit with a 30-year-old design, exceeds 4 million... Also, the Megacruiser can be considered as an alternative to the no less legendary GAZ-66, the disadvantages of which are known to everyone. Consider the driver’s seat, which is “brilliant” in its ergonomics – no other gear shift lever has so many legends about it! Of the similar cross-country ability, one can also recall the no less legendary Steyr Puch Pinzgauer rogues with backbone frames, which were produced by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch on order of the Swiss army. Aftermarket, these all-terrain vehicles with wheel formulas 6x6 and 4x4 can be purchased for at least 1.2 million. For similar money you can also find a Volvo Laplander with portal bridges, but the assortment is also not rich - there are single, miraculously preserved copies on the market.
Alternative in Russia: GAZ-66, Volvo Laplander C303 and Steyr Puch Pinzgauer 718
It turns out that the Expedit company made a pretty good offer. Here it is - the all-terrain vehicle of your dreams! Here you have an adequate price, colossal cross-country ability, and the reliability of the units is legendary. And in general - the widest space for the jeeper fantasy! But if it is impossible to travel on highways and the need to obtain tractor license You can still survive, then problems with the service ( limited opportunity purchasing spare parts) can make life difficult for a traveler. This is probably main drawback such a wonderful “rogue” - you can order a failed part, but the price and delivery time are unlikely to please anyone.
Somehow I didn’t notice... Somehow they don’t deliver such “right-hand drive” to us...
Toyota Mega cruiser - Japanese counterattack on Hummer
This year the production of the largest off-road Toyota— MegaCruiser. Priced at around 10 million yen, it was the most expensive SUV on Japanese market.
Although the car is intended for use mainly in the army and state security services, Japanese Toyota dealers annually sold about a hundred cars in the version with an all-metal 7-seater station wagon, which has the most “civilian” appearance. This sales volume is tiny compared to how civilian versions of Hummer are sold out in the States. In fact, the MegaCruiser is a Japanese analogue of the American Hummer H1, and it was created according to the same concept. But the difference between them is still great.
It should be noted that in a country where the main means of transportation is disgustingly compact mini-cars like the Daihatsu Coure, a monster of this size looks like an ocean yacht among the native canoes. After all, MegaCruiser is even bigger than its American counterpart! Although the “Japanese” borrowed a lot from HUMVEE.
The car is impressive in its appearance and seems simply immense. No other company in the world has a competitor in its range to the impudent American. Only Toyota could afford to develop such a car. And the state order played a significant role in this, otherwise the development of such a machine would simply be unprofitable. AM General and General Motors puffing angrily...
But don't talk about plagiarism. The Japanese not only created the same mastodon (which, in general, is not so difficult - is it difficult, perhaps, to make a wider track?), but also made it ride quality more acceptable than H1. And this is no longer the merit of AM General.
The 2170 mm wide Toyota MegaCruiser is equipped with a reversing system rear wheels, which gives it an undeniable advantage over the “American” in maneuvering. Turning radius Japanese car is only 5.6 m. In other words, Mega can easily be ridden around trees in the forest!
There are no artistic elaborations of the interior design; the interior is not distinguished by either harmony or elegance. Everything is subordinated to functionality. As, indeed, in Hummer. You might even think that all this was collected handicraft. Yes, that’s how it is, in general. The production volumes are still not “Corolla”... In addition, it is noticeable that Toyota, taking care of unification and cheaper design, borrowed parts from its other models: a ceiling light from the old Corolla, handles and a “cushionless” steering wheel from the old Carina, etc.
The equipment of the car is quite expected: fog lights, wipers on rear window, stereo radio, air conditioning with separate air flows on the left and right sides, a centralized door lock control system, which is very prudent for such a width, and electric windows. Not bad. At Hummer, almost everything is made to order. True, it was possible to install more convenient height adjustment in the MegaCruiser seats. The driver's seating position is very low and makes visibility difficult. But you’re not going to Celsior!
If in the Hummer the main part of the interior volume is occupied by the engine casing, then the MegaCruiser does not have this casing due to the compactness of the 4.0-liter 155-horsepower turbodiesel hidden under the forward-folding hood. Yes, between those sitting in front in the “civilian” version of Mega there is a kind of cabinet in which all the stereo systems are mounted. However, in military version this cabinet is not there. The cabin has two front row seats. Between them there is a free passage to the back of the salon, along the walls of which there are benches upholstered in leatherette. But the “retail” MegaCruisers have a two-seater sofa in the back, on the sides of which there are two more standard seats with headrests - exactly the same ones are in front. Of course, the seats are upholstered in fabric. IN cargo compartment There's plenty of room for luggage, and you can even adopt a horizontal sleeping position, just like in the Hummer.
Another nod to the side American car— 4-band automatic transmission gears with a two-stage range in the transfer case. However, unlike the H1, the Toyota MegaCruiser has a full set of locks in the transmission: central, rear and front cross-axle differentials. All locks, of course, are activated on the go.
The fully independent suspension consists of four longitudinal torsion bars at the base of the upper wishbones and large gas shock absorbers. There are no springs in the front suspension, but they are added at the rear and are designed to act when fully loaded luggage compartment rear end the MegaCruiser body “squats”. Unsprung weight reduced - the brake discs are not located on the wheel hubs, but directly at the exit of the axle shafts from the axle differentials. And lowering wheel gears increase the ground clearance to 42 cm!
As on the Hummer, tire pressure is regulated centrally and directly on the move, which is very convenient when driving in mud and sand.
The carrying capacity of the Japanese monster is 750 kg. The most curious thing is that this is exactly the same 3/4 tons that the Dodge WC all-wheel drive truck, which is a kind of progenitor of such military transport, transported along the front line of World War II.
Not much inferior to the H1 in power, the Toyota MegaCruiser is lighter: “only” 2900 kg. Toyota's four-cylinder (the Hummer stalls with laughter) turbodiesel accelerates the huge carcass to a speed of 130 km/h, but no more. And no more is needed: the three-ton “carcass” was not equipped with ABS even upon request.
One of disadvantages of Toyota MegaCruiser can be called terrifying fuel consumption for a passenger (car?..) car - 26 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km! And this despite the fact that, unlike Hummer, four-wheel drive MegaCruiser is not permanent, front axle When driving on asphalt, it should be turned off. But the tank volume is not impressive - 108 liters will not be enough for such a consumption.
Toyota Mega Cruiser is still the most tall SUV in the world. Its height reaches 2075 mm. In addition, this “passenger” car has the most high ground clearance in the world. Even the ground clearance of the Hummer H1 is 20 mm less.
