[Auto] Toyota RAV-X Concept Readies the Po[CENSORED]r SUV for the Dakar Rally

[Wolf.17]

 

The Toyota RAV-X is the latest in a lineup of concept cars debuting this week at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The RAV-X is based on a plug-in-hybrid RAV4 and rides two inches higher with a 6.3-inch-wider track thanks to a heavily reworked suspension.

Toyota also fitted the concept with unique front and rear bumpers, skid plates, and a roof spoiler.

The Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser were ideal candidates to be converted into off-road-focused concepts for the 2024 SEMA show. Now Toyota is getting more experimental with yet another concept geared towards getting off the beaten path. The RAV-X is based on a 2024 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid and draws inspiration from the burly machines that conquer the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. The RAV-X makes its debut this week at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

 

The concept was crafted by the Toyota Service Parts and Accessories Development (SPAD) team, which fully reworked the suspension and tweaked the body for better off-road performance and a true motorsports-influenced look. The SPAD group aimed to create a halo car for the RAV4 lineup and was in charge of the entire process, from sketches to designing in CAD and 3-D-printed parts.

The biggest upgrades live within the wheel wells, where Toyota fitted a long-travel suspension that lifted the RAV-X by two inches and increased the track width by 6.3 inches over the standard RAV4. The off-road SUV sports custom 2.5-inch internal-bypass dampers from Fox at the front and rear, which feature dual-speed compression adjustment. The dampers also include external reservoirs up front and piggyback-style reservoirs at the rear to maintain ideal oil temperatures. Additionally, Toyota fashioned forged aluminum front lower control arms and forged aluminum rear upper supports.

 

No major changes were made to the powertrain, which consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a trio of electric motors and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Toyota stated that the output was 302 horsepower "before being paired with a ram air intake," implying that the RAV-X makes a few more ponies than a standard plug-in RAV4. To protect the powertrain, the RAV-X wears front and rear skid plates, and the rocker panels were raised to provide more ground clearance.

A redesigned front bumper emulates those of Dakar racers like the GR DKR Hilux that won the rally in 2023, with large cooling ducts, integrated Rigid LED lights, and a pair of red tow hooks. The RAV-X also dressed up with wider fenders, extra ventilation on the hood, red mud flaps, and a rear spoiler. The inner section of the taillights was replaced by a large black trim piece, itself wearing a small lip spoiler.

 

 

The rear bumper also features a high-clearance dual exhaust, and the RAV-X rides on 17-inch forged aluminum wheels shod in 265/65R-17 tires. The wheels are painted white, with red accents up front and black accents at the rear. It seems unlikely that the RAV-X will ever reach production, but it certainly looks the part. We would welcome a more capable off-road variant of Toyota's po[CENSORED]r SUV.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a62807194/toyota-rav-x-concept-sema/