Toyota are well known for their crazy modified cars that they take along to the SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association), but we’re not sure if any of the previous years entries can match this years spectacular showpiece – the Toyota ‘Land Speed Cruiser’.
This particular car is billed as the ‘world’s fastest SUV’, and with 2,000 bhp under the bonnet and a ‘potential’ top speed of 220 mph, few manufacturers will be arguing with that – or trying to match it. It has been built by the Toyota Motorsports Technical Centre in America.
To handle all this power the entire bodyshell had to be lifted off the frame so that the chassis could be strengthened. Suspension points and engine mounts had to be moved, and while the arches stayed original, extreme high-performance wheels and tyres had to be fitted to help put the power down on the road.
The engine comes from an original 5.7-litre Land Cruiser V8 petrol, which is available with a TRD supercharger in some markets. Here it has been combined with a massive pair of Garrett turbos, forged pistons & connecting rods, a high-lift camshaft and ported cylinder heads. A custom Borla side-exit exhaust was fitted to allow for a flattened underpanel and fabricated rear diffuser.
Aerodynamics aren’t really the Land Cruiser’s strong point, so lowering the ride-height with custom suspension was essential, while the large wing mirrors have been replaced with clever rear-facing cameras.
Whereas Land Cruisers will normally seat 7 people, the Land Speed Cruiser is limited to just one – the driver. This setup keeps weight down and allows for a very thick roll cage to be fitted, keeping the driver safe in case of an accident. A racing-sped bucket seat with multi-point harness, cut-off switch and plumbed-in fire extinguisher complete the safety package.
The dashboard has largely remained, including the electrically adjustable wood-trimmed steering wheel.
Watch the video here:
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONA1Vo_SQ1Q” width=”560″ height=”315″]
