THE appearance of glamping, off-road and 4×4 vehicles is not uncommon at the Tokyo Auto Salon. For 2024 however, the adventurous spirit of motoring enthusiasts is the trend. Social media was abuzz with images of impressive off-road builds, presented by individual enthusiasts, renowned custom shops, and major brands like Honda, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota from the annual car exhibition.
Tokyo Auto Salon organizers say that the 2024 event is a testament to the fact that the “road less traveled is alive and well, and it’s paved with exciting innovations, sustainable solutions, and vehicles that redefine what it means to explore.”
Similar to SEMA in Las Vegas, it served as a platform for showcasing customized vehicles, spanning from street cars to off-road rigs. This year, the event highlighted the growing interest in off-roading and overlanding projects globally.
Luxury brand Lexus showed off their concept of “The Premium Off-Roader,” using the GX 550, to create the “Overtrail,” which aligns with the vision of a carbon-neutral society.
The GX 550 Overtrail focuses on delivering outdoor experiences that emphasize understanding, enjoyment, and the protection of nature. It was created in cooperation with Japan’s biggest 4×4 accessory maker Jaos.
Different from that Overtrail is the lifted Lexus LX600 off-road racer, fresh from competing in the Baja 1000 off-road racing competition. This rugged LX600 build featured massive tires, a pre-runner-inspired Jaos front skid-plate/bumper with rally-style lights, a fully-caged interior, and Toyo Trail Grappler off-road tires.
The Toyota Land Cruiser, known as one of the world’s best off-road vehicles, featured prominently at the show. Various Land Cruiser modifications, from retro-modern Land Cruiser 76 series for off-road enthusiasts to street-performance versions of the Land Cruiser 300 series, were on display. Through collaborative vehicles like the GX 550 Overtrail and racer and Land Cruiser Jaos versions, the goal is to continue highlighting the joy of vehicle customization and offering customers increasingly enriching car life experiences.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 76-Series, known for its retro-modern design, remained a crowd-pleaser. Many wished this iconic 4×4 platform was available in the United States, thanks to its timeless styling and reliable analog off-road technology.
The debut of the imposing Mitsubishi ‘Triton Snow Shredder,’ offered a sneak peek at the customization possibilities for buyers eagerly anticipating the arrival of their new ute in the coming weeks. While official details and additional photos are scarce, noticeable modifications include a snorkel, a prominent LED light bar, a sturdy steel bumper with an integrated bash plate at the front, protective rock sliders along the sides, a practical cargo unit at the rear, bead-lock wheels, and cosmetic wheel flares enhancing the slightly wider guard cladding.
The Tokyo Auto Salon also featured several other off-road-themed Mitsubishis, with the Delica standing out as the most capable among them. However, the Delica Mini also garnered attention for its unique appeal.
Nissan’s exhibition stood out with the Nissan X-trail T33 Rock Crawler, a concept paying homage to extreme rock crawler builds. While primarily a show model, it featured chunky fender flares, mud tires, Raptor-coated bumpers, and other off-road-inspired tweaks.
Other crossovers with off-road modifications, such as the Honda WR-V and the redesigned Subaru Outback with Toyo Open Country AT3 all-terrain tires, demonstrated the trend of mainstream crossovers embracing adventure-ready aesthetics.
Kei cars, unique to Japan, were creatively modified for rugged adventures or tough styling, showcasing the imaginative culture in Japan’s compact car scene.
Kei trucks and vans with American-inspired conversions, such as a Daihatsu Granmax with a Ford E350 van front-end graft and a Kei pickup mimicking GMC van styling, added unexpected flair to the event.
The 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon celebrated the diverse and vibrant tuner culture in Japan, featuring customized vehicles ranging from rugged SUVs and trucks to small but accessorized Kei cars. These builds highlighted the ever-evolving automotive scene in Japan.
