“Reviving a Classic: The Toyota Land Cruiser ROX Brings Back the Open-Roof Adventure”

In the United States, people not only enjoy driving convertible cars or vehicles with open roofs during the summer, but they also love jeeps and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Jeeps, once popular decades ago, are being brought back to life through the Toyota Land Cruiser ROX, or Recreation Open eXperience. Unfortunately, the Land Cruiser ROX is currently just a concept model—one that would be exciting to see in production. This project is led by Toyota North America’s studio, Calty Design Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is reimagining the classic open-roof Land Cruiser from the past.

Calty is also part of the global design team behind the new 2024 Land Cruiser 250.
In this project, the Land Cruiser has been extensively modified, with more than 50% of its components being redesigned. This transformation turns the Land Cruiser into something that feels like an entirely new vehicle.
Created in collaboration with Toyota’s Technical Center, the project includes custom stamping equipment to produce body panels and parts.
The vehicle’s cabin features custom-made short doors, high beams, and protective metal elements. The roof is replaced with a retractable cover that can slide open from front to back, offering an open-sky experience.
Additionally, there’s a middle door for easy access from the cabin to the rear bed, and the bed door features a built-in cushion or mat for sitting.
Inside, the classic vibe is enhanced by Heritage Orange leather, and the seat stitching is designed to resemble woven pandanus mats.

To make this Land Cruiser ROX even more functional, it’s equipped with a stylish roof rack and a sport bar with perforated panels to secure cargo. A barrel stored neatly on the side of the bed is designed for liquid filling.
The vehicle’s bumpers are equipped with hooks, and the underside is reinforced with protective panels. Wide fender brackets make room for custom 18-inch wheels designed by Calty.
The body color takes inspiration from the vintage Spring Green, a tribute to the Land Cruiser’s legacy.

For off-road use, the original suspension is replaced with a special TRD setup, including a 4-inch lift kit and 8-inch wider track with forged aluminum control arms.
This project stands out as an extraordinary endeavor, and with limited open-roof SUVs on the market, it would be thrilling to see Toyota bring this concept to life.