The Rally Raid edition is based on the diesel-powered GR Sport trim, adding special touches, new wheels, and a revised suspension
The Land Cruiser GR Sport is already a highly capable SUV, but Toyota Auto Body, the company’s subsidiary known for developing SUVs, vans, and special-use vehicles, has just taken it a step further. The Rally Raid is an ultra-limited edition created to celebrate Team Land Cruiser’s 12th consecutive victory in the production vehicle category of the Dakar Rally.
While Toyota could have just thrown a decal set to the SUV and call it a day, the Rally Raid has a few interesting upgrades. It rides on 18-inch Enkei PDT1 alloy wheels wrapped in chunky Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires. Red brake calipers and tow hooks add a bit of motorsport flavor, while mud flaps and TLC graphics round out the exterior touches.
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More importantly, the Rally Raid gains new suspension and cab mounts, upgrading the GR Sport setup. Finally, the interior is retrofitted with special seats upholstered in leather and ultra suede, alongside a Rally Raid plaque on the center console.
The same upgrades are also available as an accessory package for existing owners, although they are exclusively compatible with the diesel-powered Land Cruiser GR Sport. Furthermore, some of the components will become individually available at Toyota dealers in Japan.
Toyota has made no changes to the powertrain, with the standard twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 diesel generating 304 hp (227 kW / 309 PS) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic gearbox with the help of front and rear electronic differentials.
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The company will only build 12 units of the Land Cruiser Rally Raid and offer another 12 conversion packages for existing owners. The special edition is priced at ¥9,380,800 ($63,500), while the complete accessory package costs ¥1,511,400 ($10,200). Note that the regular Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport is priced from ¥8,136,700 ($55,100) in Japan.
Getting one won’t be simple. Buyers need to enter a lottery at Toyota dealers between September 11 and 28. Winners will be notified after October 17, and first deliveries are scheduled for December.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio

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