Toyota’s one-off SEMA Land Cruiser is an open-air truck

Toyota’s new Land Cruiser may be even more versatile than we initially realized.

The Japanese auto giant and its studio Calty Design Research are bringing an open truck based on the popular SUV to this year’s SEMA show. The Calty Land Cruiser ROX may just be a concept, but it’s a tantalizing glimpse into how cool a pickup based on the current-generation model would be.

Americans may think of the Land Cruiser as an SUV, but there have been several truck versions dating back to its debut in 1951. The first version of the vehicle – Toyota’s equivalent of the Willys MB, better known as the original Jeep – was adapted from the light truck from the company and was even available as a pickup. Much has changed since then, but the nameplate has graced a number of trucks in various regions over the decades, including the beloved FJ40 and the current Land Cruiser 70 in Australia.

However, the automaker’s new concept has nothing to do with that retro-styled powerhouse. The Calty Land Cruiser ROX is very clearly based on the current J250 that debuted in 2021 and was launched in the US last year. Calty has taken the gloriously boxy behemoth and removed everything above the doorline from the C-pillar to the rear, including the D-pillar, giving the vehicle a completely roofless open-air design. Where that part of the vehicle used to be is now a rugged-looking roll bar, to maintain structural integrity, as well as a fairly roomy bed and a removable soft top in case the weather takes a turn.

Those changes alone make the concept a thing of beauty, but it’s also equipped with plenty of off-road gear. Atop the windshield, the car’s only piece of glass, you’ll find an ultra-bright LED light bar, and there’s also a new bumper, excellent fender flares and a set of monstrous all-terrain tires.

Now the sad part: the Calty Land Cruiser ROX is really just a show car at this point. A video discussing the concept makes it clear that this is a one-off build. Still, the Tacoma and Tundra have shown Toyota that Americans love trucks, so if the company ever needs to spice up the Land Cruiser lineup – even though it has sold briskly since its reintroduction – why not introduce a truck variant?