Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor of Toyota vehicles in the UAE, has unveiled the expansion of the Xtreme product range at the 2011 Dubai International Motorshow.

In addition to the legendary Land Cruiser Xtreme, Toyota has added the popular 2012 FJ Cruiser and Hilux to the line-up, a statement from the company said.

Andrew Squires, national sales and distribution manager, Al-Futtaim Motors, said: “The UAE offers some of the best off-road experiences with interesting destinations sometimes extremely isolated with a challenging terrain. In the Xtreme range we have introduced the necessary modifications to enable advanced off-road drivers to explore the remotest and toughest areas without compromising the exemplary comfort ride those vehicles traditionally offer.”

Adding an enhanced performance that far exceeds the normal off-road capabilities of the everyday drive, the Xtreme modifications offer the off-road passionate drivers a greater driving pleasure.

Modifications include 35 inch wheels for Land Cruiser and 33 Inch wheels for the FJ Cruiser and Hilux. The large wheels provide higher ground clearance and large footprints that result in minimal disturbance when driving in off-road conditions, the statement said.

Taking into consideration the passenger’s comfort, the front and rear suspension was lifted by 40mm in total with additional trimming to get the necessary wheel space for the larger tyres, which improves driving view. All of the vehicles are fitted with heavy duty front and rear shock absorbers, and a specially made torque wrench. Additionally the Land Cruiser Xtreme features a full body kit and side step protection bar.

“We saw an increased demand on the Xtreme Land Cruiser, mainly from people who want to try something new or just like the look of a bigger car and the possibilities it offers. Owning a modified vehicle has now become a lifestyle for many people. The Land Cruiser Xtreme has seen an unprecedented success and it is only logical to inject the FJ Cruiser and Hilux with Xtreme DNA,” Squires added.

The Xtreme project is in collaboration with Arctic Truck, the Icelandic off-road vehicle modification company.

Since 1990 Arctic Truck has specialized in modifying 4WD vehicles which are required by utility vehicles, police and military use in remote locations such as mountains, glaciers and deserts, the statement said.

The Land Cruiser Xtreme is the leading vehicle in the Arctic Truck range and is traditionally employed by rescue squads and construction companies because of its advanced ability in the most difficult terrain and severest climates, it said.

Hjalti V Hjaltason, manager of Arctic Truck UAE, said: “When we were approached in 2009 by Al-Futtaim Motors to develop the Land Cruiser Xtreme it made sense to us, as both Arctic Trucks and Al-Futtaim Motors have a rich history with the Land Cruiser. When we first visited the UAE it was very evident for us what the Land Cruiser meant to culture. Therefore modifying a car with such popularity was a very daunting task due to the high expectations.”

Cars modified by Arctic Trucks have been used on expeditions on the Magnetic North Pole with Top Gear, the South Pole, over the glacier of Greenland and on the erupting Icelandic volcano, Eyjafallajökull, it said. – TradeArabia News Service