Usually when we write about Land Cruisers, it’s to tell you that someone has made an improvement to the outside of one of the iconic Toyota SUVs.
In this case, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
As part of its display at SEMA 2016, Toyota unveiled a Land Cruiser with one volleyball-sized Garrett turbocharger attached to each of the banks of cylinders that are make up its 5.7-liter V8.
Linked to an ATI transmission, the engine’s special attachments can breathe through front inlets in the specially designed aerodynamic hood that sits atop the renamed Land Speed Cruiser. Because of this redesign, the “Land Speed Cruiser” can generate more than 2,000 ponies and hit a top speed of 220 MPH.
It breaks “all of the normal conventions of what an SUV should be” — up to and including a lowered suspension that pretty much nullifies the vehicle’s off-roading ability. Hell, we’d be surprised if you can get this thing over a speedbump without getting high-centered.
“From the outside, the Land Speed Cruiser appears quite normal, quite subtle,” said chief engineer Chuck Wade. “This is what makes it so special. Every single system and component has been touched. I love the challenge of taking a vehicle and making it stronger, faster.”
He should’ve joined Daft Punk.
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