CHATSWORTH, CA – The ICON FJ44 Petersen Special earned a place in the newly redesigned Petersen Automotive Museum by pairing the open-top styling of the original FJ40 Land Cruiser with state-of-the-art modern performance and luxury. While maintaining the original essence of the classic Land Cruiser, this thoroughly reinterpreted 4×4 packs a Chevrolet Performance E-Rod 6.2L LS3 V-8 engine and Magnuson supercharger good for 530 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. The upgraded power allows the contemporary classic to fly from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds with an environmentally conscious powertrain emission-certified for all 50 states.

“This ICON is actually the one hundredth custom Land Cruiser that we have built since we started the company back in 2008,” comments ICON 4×4 President Jonathan Ward. “We used this build as an opportunity to prototype new ideas. It really represents the apex of everything we’re doing in terms of design and aesthetic while pushing to include the very best materials. Of course, the opportunity to display at the Petersen to help commemorate the museum’s grand re-opening led to the naming.”

A prime example of the technological evolution of the new Petersen Special is the suspension. This ICON uses a refined radius-arm 4-link suspension system in the front, complimented by a triangulated 4-link rear suspension system, both running new tunable nitrogen-charged shocks by Fox Racing. This special system is designed for maximum on-road performance without sacrificing any off-road capability nor comfort.

The ICON Petersen Special rides on a custom mandrel-bent Art Morrison frame and Dynatrac ProRock axles: Dana 44 front, Dana 60 rear. The axles are capped by hydro-boosted Brembo Sport Brakes in a rare engineering collaboration between the elite German disc-system manufacturer and a specialty vehicle company. The Dynatrac differentials have ARB Air Lockers and 4.09:1 gears to offer the best of both worlds on and off-road. The power steering system uses a PSC pump and gearbox to control the 285/65R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires on ICON-designed, American-made forged aluminum wheels.

The gear train is completed with a GM 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission and an Advance Adapters Atlas II transfer case with the ultra-granny 5:1 low-range.

The iconic Land Cruiser body is re-imagined in a four-door configuration with all-new hand-crafted ICON -inch-thick 5052 H32 aluminum. The body is finished in a Los Angeles-sourced Sierra Brown Teflon-polyester hybrid powder coat, which was originally conceived for exterior architectural use. Accessories include auto-deploying AMP Research PowerSteps for easier access, custom ICON bumpers, extensive Putco LED lighting, and a front Warn 9.5cti winch.

Drivers and passengers are treated to the latest in luxury and technology inside the ICON FJ44 Petersen Special. Heated seats feature exclusive woven textile inserts by the renowned design house Chilewich. The interiors are engineered to absorb and transfer heat away from the driver and passengers. A Vintage Air Gen IV HVAC system with 40-percent more output pushes conditioned air through unique closable vents made from anodized aluminum. These parts —along with Dakota Digital gauges, custom CNC-cut aluminum dash knobs, door handles, and seat controls — were designed to retain the heritage of the original Land Cruiser while putting ICON’s distinct design ethos on full display.

The center console is a completely new contemporary design by ICON made from stainless steel that utilizes a gas-powered strut to lift the locking lid for convenient access. It also features interior LED lighting, marine-rated 12-volt and USB power ports, and four cup holders. High-end Focal speakers and digital amplification compliment a touch-screen Pioneer head unit, which features a large rearview camera monitor, GPS-based navigation, and Apple CarPlay iPhone connectivity. A Safecraft fire extinguisher provides an on-board safety measure.

The ICON FJ44 Petersen Special will be on display at the stunningly remodeled Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles through Fall 2016.

For more information, please visit www.icon4x4.com.