The vast majority of today’s most reputable vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket brand close out their calendar year with a bang by bringing their most radical one-offs and concepts to the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. With so many truly world-class builds being unveiled, standing out from the crowd can be pretty tricky. So, while the 2024 SEMA Show doesn’t officially kick off until next week, Toyota has gotten the motoring public’s attention by debuting two transformative truck concepts. 

Throwback 4Runner TRD Surf Concept

The Basics 

Built by Toyota’s Motorsports Garage, the 4Runner TRD Surf Concept started out as a 2025 4Runner TRD Limited though has been treated to a highly-involved transformation that draws heavy inspiration from the Japanese marque’s ‘80s era Hilux Surf. 

The Powertrain

This modern-day beach cruiser retains its donor’s turbocharged 2.4-liter iForce inline four engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. Fitted with a custom exhaust, the TRD Limited-based one-off makes 278hp and 317ft-lbs of torque, all of which is sent to the ground via a full-time four-wheel drive system complete with an electronically-controlled dual-range transfer case. 

The Beach Cruiser Treatment

The most transformative aspect of the project is undoubtedly the modifications it’s received to its body. The four-door donor has had its D-pillars deleted, along with the roof which has been jettisoned starting behind the doors. From there, the body was reconfigured into a two-door setup with a custom roll-cage in place of the D-pilars. This new configuration allows a removable bespoke hard top to be added to the mix. 

Gaining 2” of width to both sides, the body has also been treated to custom fender flares at all four corners, opening up space for the concept’s larger wheels and tires, and increased suspension travel. The concept also sports custom badging and branding both inside and out, with custom TRD Surf graphics, Turbo script in the same motif. And, while this design is impressive on its own, we’re particularly blown away by the unmistakable factory finish the concept possesses, as it looks more like a production vehicle than a one-off built for SEMA. 

Running Gear

The donor’s stock suspension has also been heavily upgraded, having received a new long-travel setup with billet aluminum front upper and lower A-arms. The thing also gets various steering upgrades, custom front axles, and a rear-end housing plucked from the Tundra. The entire concept rides on a set of custom 17” wheels shod in beefy 37” tires. A pair of custom surfboards were also whipped up for this project before receiving TRD Surf logos and branding that matches the concept. 

Straight From The Horse’s Mouth

“This vehicle not only showcases Toyota’s engineering prowess; it also reflects the passion and creativity of our team members who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries.  And besides, who doesn’t love a concept dedicated to surfing!?” explains  Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Marketing.

Spec Sheet

CALTY Toyota Land Cruiser ROX

The Basics

Alongside the 4Runner TRD Surf build, Toyota has also prepared a second, equally-impressive one-off for next week’s SEMA Show, this time constructing the thing around the marque’s newly-unveiled generation of the Land Cruiser. 

The Force Behind The Project

While the beach cruiser concept was carried out by the Toyota Motorsports Garage, the Land Cruiser ROX concept is a product of the Calty Design Research studio. Established as a Toyota design studio in 1973, Calty is headed up by chief designer Adam Rabinowitz who oversaw this new SEMA build. 

The Build

Known as the CALTY Toyota Land Cruiser ROX, this one-off 4×4 began life as a new 8th Gen (J300) Land Cruiser — which was penned by Calty — though the completed build is a far cry from the donor’s former self. A grinder has been put to the donor’s C-pillars before seeing the D-pillars lopped off entirely. From there, a bespoke frame was built underneath before finally being capped off with a panoramic roof capped off with a reclining soft top.

Custom half-doors, massive fender flares, and larger off-road wheels and tires have also been added to the mix. Rounding out the concept are steel bumpers fore and aft, a roof-mounted light bar, reinforced skid plates, brush guards, a spare wheel carrier, an integrated winch, and custom rock sliders. 

Under The Hood

This SUV-turned-pickup is powered by the 8th-gen Land Cruiser’s turbocharged i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine. This turbocharged 2.4-liter hybrid four-banger cranks out 326hp and 465ft-lbs of torque, all of which is transmitted through a full-time four-wheel drive system. 

Putting The Donor To Bed

The biggest change found on the CALTY Toyota Land Cruiser ROX is the fact this full-size SUV has been reconfigured as a crew cab pickup. By deleting the rear cargo area and trimming off the D-pillars, the donor’s aft end could be converted into a pickup bed. This new bed has been complemented via a custom functional tailgate and a bespoke headache rack. 

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

WIth Toyota’s Throwback 4Runner TRD Surf and CALTY Toyota Land Cruiser ROX Concepts both being factory-backed one-offs, neither vehicle is for sale — or earmarked for production. Both concepts will be on display at the 2024 SEMA Show beginning Tuesday, November 5 and running through Friday.

Toyota Throwback 4Runner TRD Surf & CALTY Toyota Land Cruiser ROX Concepts

Using two of its most popular ladder-frame SUV platforms, Toyota just unveiled a pair of transformative truck concepts ahead of the upcoming SEMA Show with a 4Runner turned open-air beach cruiser and an off-road-focused Land Cruiser-based pickup conversion.