Formidable, isn’t it? It hasn’t taken long for ultra-modifiers to get their hands on the newest iteration of the Land Cruiser, known as the J250 among aficionados and at Toyota HQ. To Japanese tuners Kuhl this square jawed luxury off-roader, with its storied history of conquering the most inhospitable terrain, was merely a blank canvas: a way to show off their prowess at extreme modification. Looking at these images, you’d have to say that the end result is impressive, more than ready to start tackling the rigors of the average urban jungle with its many speedbumps and supermarkets.
Kuhl Racing are no strangers to taking distinctive Japanese vehicles and turning them into something more extreme: from wide body kits added to the rally-bred GR Yaris, to an off road transformation of the Toyota GR86. There is nothing subtle about what Kuhl Racing do, very much in keeping with the obsessive enthusiasts who make up the renowned Japanese modified car scene.
The Iron Build
Which brings us to the Land Cruiser you see here, unlikely to be doing burnouts or drifting a Tokyo corner. The modifiers call it the Kuhl Blocker Iron Build - and first let’s talk about those wheels and tyres, which lift an already tall machine a further seven inches off the ground. That is courtesy 22 inch alloy wheels - Kuhl Verz DDR03 since you ask - shod with 37 inch Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tyres, designed to take on just about anything, and especially good in mud. Spacers by JAOS help, bespoke suspension is now fully adjustable. Handy for the bigger speedbumps.
The Iron Build bit is all about further protecting an already tough machine. Kuhl Racing branded bumper protectors - call them bullbars if you will - are fitted front and rear, with a skid plate as a sump guard. Side steps help with access to this super tall off-roader. And if you are tempted to audition for a part in the 'Fast and Furious' franchise, there’s now a sculpted rear wing at the rear edge of the roof, itself now graced with a full roof rack for your steamer trunks, and fitted with a 40 inch LED light array to pick out sleeping giraffes.
Build your own
This is a one-off by Kuhl Racing, to demonstrate how their bodykits can be used and - bad news - it’s not for sale. But - good news - the bodykit itself is very much available at around £30,000. You’ll have to source your own new Land Cruiser and that’ll be around £80,000. Add installation at your local expert tuning garage - we’d add £2,000 or so for that - and you have your own go anywhere new style Land Cruiser for £112,000, which is about the price of the latest Range Rover. But then, who wants to drive what everyone else has? Plus yours will be a Toyota so officially not allowed to break down. We’ll be waiting as you reach the summit.
Next up: Land Cruiser LC76 by PVS Automotive.
