Toyota’s 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show was last week, and one of the highlights was their impressive Land Speed Cruiser, currently poised to be the world’s fastest SUV.
Not only can the Land Speed Cruiser hit a top speed above 200 mph, but it generates over 2,000 horsepower, which is unthinkable heft for most sports cars, let alone an SUV. This machine emphasizes the “utility” portion of sport utility vehicles, and was specifically built for power and speed despite its normal-looking appearance.
Under the aerodynamic hood, the Cruiser has a 3UR-FE 5.7-liter V8 engine, with Garrett turbochargers under each bank of cylinders and an ATI transmission. “Every single system and component has been touched,” says motorsports technical center manager Chuck Wade. “The trick is getting the body back onto the heavily modified frame.”
That was no easy trick, either. Somehow, the Land Speed Cruiser’s powerhouse mechanics all fit within the subtle outer shell of a 2016 Land Cruiser. The patience and precision required for that level of engineering are remarkable, and the difficulty is what kept Wade inspired.
“I love the challenge of taking a vehicle and making it stronger, faster,” he said. “Making something beyond outrageous keeps me coming back for more.”
Toyota Motor Sales national engagement marketing manager Steve Appelbaum agrees, saying that the company is “breaking all of the normal conventions of what an SUV should be” with the Land Speed Cruiser, which he calls “a feat of engineering.”
To see the Land Speed Cruiser attempt to become the fastest SUV ever, check out the video below.
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