Let’s go for the 2023 edition of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. Toyota, which is a regular at the event, is arriving with the largest contingent in its history, including four special projects that are sure to attract attention and promise thrills.
The slogan that brings them together is “Track or Trail, Your Thrill Awaits”. We present them to you!
F.J. Bruiser
Photo: Toyota
The Land Cruiser will return to Canada for 2024, but this totally crazy concept is instead based on a 1966 FJ45 Land Cruiser pickup truck and is inspired by the vehicles taking part in the King of the Hammers off-road endurance event.
The tubular chassis and roll bars are complemented by completely revised panels and a custom suspension incorporating Fox shock absorbers and Eibach springs. What dominates the attention, of course, are the huge 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX tires. When the suspension is compressed to the maximum, these tires reach halfway up the windshield!
How can we ignore the NASCAR-derived 5.8-liter TRD V8? This generates no less than 725 horsepower and roars through a MagnaFlow exhaust. But wait, that’s not all: since this vehicle is designed to climb rocks and other rough terrain (it maintains the engine speed at 7,000 rpm in first gear at a speed of 20 km/h), a system track is installed underneath and is activated via Tank mode. Impossible to get caught!
FJ Retro Cruiser
Photo: Toyota
This other creation derived from the Land Cruiser (1967) dates back almost a quarter of a century and was initially imagined by racing legend Rod Millen, but Toyota has just given it new life and exhibits at the SEMA Show for the first time.
Basically, all the worn and decaying items were replaced, including several bad pipes, leaking shock absorbers, and a fuel system in need of an upgrade. Then, with the help of Complete Customs, the Retro Cruiser’s exterior was refreshed and repainted in its original 1999 color.
Don’t miss the photo gallery at the top of the page to admire its luxurious retro-modern interior highlighted by Connolly leather.
Tacoma X-Runner
Photo: Toyota
Naturally, Toyota had to transform its all-new 2024 Tacoma in one way or another. Rather than pushing the theme of adventure and off-road driving even further, the company did the opposite. , taking the idea from the 2004 X-Runner concept.
It’s a pickup truck specially designed for urban and track use, with a reinforced chassis, tracks widened by 3 inches and air suspension taken from the Tundra to lower it as much as possible. The arms of this one have been lengthened, the springs are firmer and 2.5-inch Bilstein shock absorbers are found at all four corners. Added to this are 21-inch wheels on Michelin Sport tires.
As you can see, the entire bodywork has been reworked to give the X-Runner some muscle, including a custom hood with an air scoop for the modified 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 lurking underneath. The 421 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque are sent solely to the rear wheels, as it should be for a street pickup.
Blue Beetle Tacoma
Photo: Toyota
A second Tacoma is an eye-catcher and becomes a sort of superhero like Jaime Reyes in the recent film Blue Beetle. The exclusive film that covers it is the work of the design team at Warner Bros. Studios, which has, in some way, reproduced the character’s costume.
Toyota Genuine Predator tubular running boards have been added, as have new exhaust outlets.
Furthermore, Toyota took advantage of the SEMA Show to announce the world premiere of a new TRD Performance package for the 2024 Tundra, which increases power from 389 to 421 horsepower in the base version and from 437 to 469 horsepower in the hybrid version. We are awaiting a response from Toyota Canada to find out if this set will indeed be offered here.