Few off-roaders are as capable or as iconic as the Toyota Land Cruiser. Now, as Toyota’s customization subsidiary Modellista gears up for its US launch, it’s unveiling a thoroughly reworked 250-Series model at SEMA.showcasing upgrades that not only give the Toyota a cinematic flair, but also sharpen its off-road prowess. The concept’s front fascia is arresting, to say the least. Dominating the view is a full-width LED light bar sitting just above the headlights. Unlike the usual aftermarket bars, this one has a continuous, solid beam that conceals the individual LEDs, delivering a clean, OEM-inspired look rather than the piecemeal glare typical of lesser setups.
Modellista’s designers haven’t stopped
there. Small protectors now shield the headlights, complementing a muscular
bumper outfitted with a skid plate and accented by splashes of bright green.
There’s also a modified hood with large cable attachments running to the
A-pillars.
The rugged upgrades are particularly
prominent on the sides. There are new wheels wrapped in mud-terrain tires and
an assortment of black plastic parts that have been affixed to the doors and
quarter panels. One of the more functional upgrades are the carrying boxes
positioned over the rear side windows. It’s hard to fault Modellista upgrades
done to the rear of the Land Cruiser. As you’d expect, there is a bespoke
bumper, a new tailgate, revised taillights, and a ladder that provides easy
access to the roof. Speaking of the roof, it includes a rack equipped with
white and red LEDs.
Modellista confirmed its intention to
enter the US market at last year’s SEMA Show and, at the time, unveiled a
series of modified Toyota and Lexus models. It says it plans to incorporate
design elements from the Land Cruiser concept into its US-based models, but it
will depend on the reception to the concept.
