The redesigned 2025 Toyota 4Runner has yet to arrive at dealerships, but that hasn’t stopped Toyota from doing up a rad concept for this year’s SEMA show that kicks off in just a couple weeks. Called the 4Runner TRD Surf, it calls back to the Hilux Surf that was offered in Japan back in the 1980s, and we have a feeling you’re going to be yelling at Toyota to make this.
Toyota says inspiration for the concept comes from Southern California’s surf scene in the ‘80s, which is when the original 4Runner launched and became a popular vehicle for many local surfers. Lead builder and Director of Operations at Toyota’s Motorsports Technical Center Marty Schwerter said some of his own experiences cruising along Pacific Coast Highway in a Toyota Pickup during this time helped give him and his team the vision they needed to turn the new 4Runner into a modern interpretation of the original.
The 2025 4Runner reminded me of the original, with its rugged look and powerhouse 4cyl engine. I knew it had the potential to be the ultimate beach cruiser,” said Schwerter. “We wanted to create something that would resonate today while paying homage to the past. The removable top was a must, just like the original, and we made sure it’s as functional as it is stylish.
I think Toyota really pulled it off. Aside from things like the custom paint job and TRD Surf and Turbo badges, the most obvious change to the 4Runner is its body work. Schwerter and his team transformed the new 4Runner into a two-door SUV with a removable rear roof, just like the original 4Runner that was really just a two-door pickup with a covered rear bed. This was something of a challenge for the engineering team, as Schwerter detailed.
Engineering a legitimate, removable top; going from a 4-door to a 2-door while maintaining functional windows; flipping the front passenger seat for improved rear seat access; and adding 2-inches of width to both sides were all just tip of the iceberg issues.
The removable top was designed and built in house using CAD and 3D printing tech. Other changes were made under the skin to turn the 4Runner into an even more capable off-roader. There’s a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a dual-range transfer case, a long-travel suspension system with billet aluminum upper and lower control arms, custom front axles, an upgraded steering system, a rear end housing from the Tundra and a custom exhaust. Big 37-inch off-road tires with 17-by-8-inch wheels were fitted as well. The 278-horsepower turbocharged inline-4 remains stock.
Inside there’s weatherproofing throughout along with waterproof floors and a passenger seat that flips forward to allow easy access to the rear seats. Toyota also threw in a custom surfboard. SEMA modifications aside, this is definitely a body style Toyota needs to bring back for the 4Runner. If we’re going to have a market that’s oversaturated with SUVs and crossovers, we might as well make some cool, unique stuff. A two-door 4Runner TRD Pro with a removable rear roof would sell like hotcakes.
