Toyota Concept LC250 "LC ROX" and 4R Surf

[Jetboy]

It seems like Toyota knows what enthusiasts want - a top that comes off. Just won't do a production version. Cool concepts though! Initially I didn't recognize the LC ROX as a LC250. It looks so different to me I though it was just a stand alone concept.

It's judgment based purely on appearances, but the CALTY team doesn't give me the vibe of folks who has ever actually been offroad or would put something together that I'd be interested in. And I suspect it's this disconnect leading to why we don't have front lockers or why the new Tundra is what it is. But these concepts are pretty great. It appears the 4R has an actual functional hard top. Even if it feels more directed toward LA California than Baja California, I'll take it. Build it and they will come.

I want to see what a clean sheet design by this guy would be. Whoever he is - I think I'd like what he would come up with.

 

[Shebamacalla]

They know what the people wanted, they just chose not to do it.

 

[APIOQM]

This is cooler:

 

[Jetboy]

This is cooler:

That is neat setup. I wouldn't exploit impoverished peoples with anything less!

 

[Specialeyes]

And now I want a Surf

 

[turbo8]

 

[lcgeek]

Yes! A tailgate!

 

[taccruiser97]

I don’t think the ROX will ever see a showroom floor, but I am hoping this is an indication of some future options for the Land Cruiser.

 

[Phillyd2]

What's odd / interesting is it looks like Toyota was in some way involved and was ok with the. using their logo.

 

[OGBeno]

What's odd / interesting is it looks like Toyota was in some way involved and was ok with the. using their logo.

It was designed and modified by Toyota.

 

[turbo8]

I like the TRD billet control arms on the Surf concept.

 

[Jetboy]

Imagine having access to a budget where you could just make a one-off set of forged control arms for a project essentially for a single car show. I'm fortunate enough to have free access to more basic CNC mills and other fab tooling most garage mechanics dream of. But this is on a whole next level to make forging dies just for just one piece. And then having all of the proper forging tools and processes to use them on.

Looks like there's at least 6 separate forging die sets used (2x front LCA, 2x UCA, 1x rear LCA, 1x panhard). Maybe $5k per die set = $30k for the dies. In a more fun world Toyota wouldn't need to worry about liability and FMVSS and could just produce a few thousand pieces from each one and sell em at the parts counter. I hope someone in that shop is secretly going in after hours and stamping out half a dozen for their backyard projects.

 

[jdam]

They are mold/die forged or are they forged billets being milled? I think it's the latter, at least for one-off pieces. Unless they really do intend to sell these at volume.

 

[OGBeno]

I mean…. We are talking about the largest automotive manufacturing operation on Planet Earth. They can do whatever they want.

 

[cruisergreen]

All that work and these vehicles will get shown off for a few months or a year and then get crushed.

 

[APIOQM]

Imagine having access to a budget where you could just make a one-off set of forged control arms for a project essentially for a single car show. I'm fortunate enough to have free access to more basic CNC mills and other fab tooling most garage mechanics dream of. But this is on a whole next level to make forging dies just for just one piece. And then having all of the proper forging tools and processes to use them on.

Looks like there's at least 6 separate forging die sets used (2x front LCA, 2x UCA, 1x rear LCA, 1x panhard). Maybe $5k per die set = $30k for the dies. In a more fun world Toyota wouldn't need to worry about liability and FMVSS and could just produce a few thousand pieces from each one and sell em at the parts counter. I hope someone in that shop is secretly going in after hours and stamping out half a dozen for their backyard projects.

Trailing arms too.

Edit: Assuming this is what you meant by rear LCA. Disregard!

 

[Rednexus]

Doesn't really do much for me. TBH, it looks like a weird Jeep/Bronco hybrid. Very Jeep-esque with the swept/open rear and Bronco-esque with the long-travel IFS and flares. If you showed it to the general public, half would say it's a Jeep, half would say it's a Bronco.

There are just too many Jeeps/Broncos around here, many done up that way, many of them driven by midlife-crisis folks, and maybe 5% of them ever really hit the trail. So it's a look I have some aversion too....I feel it's just missing angry Jeep eyes. And I'm even midlife crisis aged. Perhaps I like restrained Lexus style instead of faux aggressiveness for my crisis rig.

 

[turbo8]

I would really be surprised if they were forged. If so, that's aewsome. Looks like they were machined from a billet though.

 

[Jetboy]

I would really be surprised if they were forged. If so, that's aewsome. Looks like they were machined from a billet though.

I think they said that on one of the videos. It seemed unusual to me too because it would normally be cheaper to just machine them than to first machining dies in steel that's much harder to do and then using the dies to make the aluminum parts. But maybe it's just a flex by Toyota because they can?

 

[Phillyd2]

It was designed and modified by Toyota.

Ah! I missed that they were 'approached by marketing'. Thanks!