Toyota has revealed a extremely modified, Dakar Rally-ready idea automobile based mostly on its widespread RAV4 on the 2024 SEMA Present, one of many world’s largest automotive aftermarket exhibitions.
The Toyota RAV-X Idea takes Australia’s favorite SUV and provides a collection of off-road focussed mods, equipment and efficiency upgrades to make this essentially the most hardcore RAV4 constructed by the Japanese model to this point.
The high-performance mid-sized SUV outputs greater than 225kW as commonplace from its plug-in hybrid powertrain – unavailable in Australia – which Toyota says makes it “an excellent platform for off-road efficiency” because of its low centre of gravity attributable to battery placement, “earlier than being paired with a ram air consumption”.
100s of latest automotive offers can be found by means of CarExpert proper now. Get the consultants in your facet and rating an excellent deal. Browse now.
Extra importantly, a string of bespoke chassis upgrades by the Toyota Service Components and Equipment Improvement (SPAD) crew dramatically enhances the RAV-X’s off-road functionality.
These embrace a full 2.0-inch (51mm) suspension raise, an enormous 160mm enhance in monitor width and customized 2.5-inch inside bypass shocks in any respect 4 corners, full with dual-speed compression damping adjustment and exterior reservoirs to maintain oil temperatures down throughout excessive off-roading.
Additionally designed to deal with desert terrain at excessive pace are distinctive, SPAD-developed cast aluminium entrance decrease management arms and rear higher helps.
Below-body safety comes courtesy of entrance and rear skid plates, a Dakar-inspired entrance bumper with built-in cooling ducts helps enhance the strategy angle, and a high-clearance twin exhaust is built-in into the rear bumper to extend the departure angle.
Bespoke fender flares with front-wheel air flow enhance air movement and the entire package deal rides on rally-style white 17×8.5-inch cast aluminium wheels with 265/65R17 off-road tyres, hugged by purple mudflaps.
Punctuating all of that is an aggressive rear spoiler and strategic venting all through the entrance fascia to alleviate engine bay and entrance wheel-well stress zones.
Toyota says the result’s a automobile that excels when it comes to off-road functionality and high-speed efficiency, “pushing the bounds of what a small crossover can obtain”.
“The imaginative and prescient behind the RAV-X was to create a halo automobile idea for the RAV4 lineup,” stated SPAD senior engineering supervisor, Jakin Wilson.
“By leveraging the information and functionality from years of high-performance off-road automobile growth, the engineers created an idea that’s true to the off-road fanatic.”
Whereas Toyota stresses that the RAV-X is a “particular undertaking prototype automobile”, Toyota Motor North America division advertising and marketing group vice chairman Mike Tripp additionally stated it’s “greater than only a idea”.
“RAV4 is certainly one of our hottest and versatile autos; with RAV-X we’re displaying a wholly new risk of simply how cool and adventurous a small crossover like this may be,” he stated.
The RAV-X is only one of 4 idea autos Toyota is displaying on the 2024 SEMA Present, held over November 5-8 on the Las Vegas Conference Middle.
Earlier this week, Toyota uncovered the Calty Land Cruiser Rox, based mostly on what we recognized in Australia because the LandCruiser Prado, however sans the SUV’s rear roof part to create a ute.
MORE: Every thing Toyota RAV4
MORE: Toyota LandCruiser Prado ute revealed, however there’s a catch
