Toyota Shows RAV-X at SEMA

The crew from Toyota is on a roll at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas, trotting out plenty of product – some of which would be mighty interesting in production form.

Witness the RAV-X Concept, a build which jacks the height of a RAV4 PHEV by a couple of inches with custom internal bypass shocks featuring front external reservoirs and rear piggyback reservoirs to keep shock oil temperatures in check. Knobby 265/65R17 tires are found at each corner and help the track width walk a significant 6.3 inches up from stock. Engineers crafted and fitted forged aluminum front lower control arms and rear upper supports as well.

Styling gets a dose of drama thanks to a decision to make the thing resemble a Dakar rally racer. High clearance front and rear skid plates keep rough stuff out from under the RAV-X while raised rocker panels contribute to increased clearance. That front bumper has integrated cooling ducts and blends decently into bespoke fender flares. You’ll have also noticed the rally-esque white aluminum wheels and red mud flaps, both of which remind this author of GT-Four gear from the 1990s. With overlanding capturing the minds and wallets of many off-roaders these days, there is an argument that at least some of these alterations would make bank if offered through a Toyota performance catalog.

By using the plug-in hybrid as its base, the team could take advantage of that trim’s unique center of gravity (thanks, jumbo battery pack) and the fact it is the most powerful RAV on offer in showrooms. Remember, this is a PHEV with over 300 horsepower. It’s all a brainchild of Toyota Service Parts and Accessories Development, a team acronymized as SPAD and once again proving that, along with TRD, this is a company with a lock on unfortunate acronyms.