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5 pumped-up rides from the SEMA 2025 show

There were loads of fun surprises at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas last week (Nov. 4-7), a trade-only event that showcases the latest automotive specialty products. From a restomod 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 fitted with a modern twin-turbo V6 to an INFINITI QX80 SUV transformed into a 1,000-hp purple racer and a Rolls-Royce Cullinan with mega street style, we run through our show faves.

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Infiniti QX80 R-Spec

Infiniti turned its flagship luxury, full-size, three-row QX80 SUV into a surprisingly racy and raw performance machine with the QX80 R-Spec build. The eggplant-colored powerhouse boasts a version of the legendary Nissan GT-R's twin-turbo engine tuned to be capable of 1,000 hp.

The QX80 R-Spec features a GT-R-sourced 3.8-L twin-turbo V6 that has received extensive modifications including custom turbochargers, intercoolers, exhaust manifolds, and an upgraded fuel system. Selecting a GT-R engine as a donor for this build was a direct nod to the lineage of the standard twin-turbo V6 in QX80, which is related to and incorporates numerous engineering innovations from GT-R.

QX80 R-Spec harnesses this additional horsepower with Nissan GT-R carbon ceramic brakes featuring bespoke modifications. A custom coilover suspension optimizes handling. R-Spec wears bronze 24-in. wheels designed to resemble those from the GT-R, with a 12-in. width accommodating 315 section-width tires for exceptional grip levels.

The aggressive-looking SUV sports a custom body kit that is wider, lower. and aerodynamically enhanced. All of its visual enhancements are directly inspired by the GT-R T-Spec Takumi Edition, starting with a can't-miss color-shifting wrap that pays homage to the Midnight Purple colors made famous on the R34 and R35 GT-R generations. The R-Spec also has restyled exhaust finishers, diffusers, fog lights, badges, and other design cues similarly drawn from the T-Spec Takumi Edition, making the connection to GT-R even clearer.

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Toyota Turbo Trail Cruiser restomod

Toyota debuted the Turbo Trail Cruiser, a performance-inspired build that blends the timeless appeal of a 1985 Land Cruiser FJ60 with the cutting-edge power of Toyota's modern i-FORCE twin-turbo V6. The unique project was an exercise in seamlessly retrofitting contemporary Toyota engineering into a heritage platform. The makers dubbed it "part resto, part hot rod, and all Toyota."

Powered by the i-FORCE 3.4-L twin-turbo V6 found in Toyota's current Tundra, the Turbo Trail Cruiser produces 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, nearly doubling the output of the FJ60's original inline-six. The modern engine brings quieter operation, refinement, reduced emissions, and better fuel efficiency -- along with instant spool-up, and the steep yet linear torque curve of twin turbochargers, which make the Land Cruiser feel more modern and capable than ever.

"It's a hot-rod approach with Toyota DNA -- power, drivability, and reliability in a package that still feels true to the original Land Cruiser," said Marty Schwerter, director of Operations at Toyota's Motorsports Garage and lead builder on the project.

Unlike many restomod efforts, the Turbo Trail Cruiser was built with a singular philosophy: to appear factory-original. Every component was developed to fit without cutting into the firewall, relocating mount points, or altering the 1985 FJ60's structural integrity.

The Toyota Motorsports Garage team engineered new motor mounts and machined an adapter plate to mate the i-FORCE V6 engine to the bell housing of the FJ60's factory 5-speed transmission. The engine oil pan was re-designed to work with the Land Cruiser's chassis layout, while a bespoke exhaust system provides an aggressive exhaust note. A new heat exchanger was fitted to original mounting points to provide added cooling capacity for the turbocharged engine, while a custom wiring harness makes the connection to the engine management system, ensuring factory-quality drivability.

Beyond the powertrain, this classic FJ received a modest 1.5-in. lift, 35-in. tires, front shackle reversal, and period-correct colors and graphics finished in a PPG reproduction of Toyota's original 1986 Silver 147. Inside, a modern JBL stereo system subtly enhances the vintage cabin experience -- updates that preserve its timeless character while giving the impression it could have spent the past 40 years tucked away in a garage.

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Rolls-Royce Cullinan goes super urban
Urban Automotive made a dramatic statement showcasing the latest in bespoke British style by creating the world's first Rolls-Royce Cullinan (Series II) with forged carbon fiber Urban Widetrack treatment, built by Platinum Motorsport in LA. The Rolls features white exterior paintwork, a custom tri-color mandarin orange, white, and black leather interior, 24-in. Urban x Vossen forged UV-6 alloy wheels, plus an Inozetek INOclear PPF wrap. This car looked right out of a movie.

The Cullinan's redesign includes a striking replacement carbon fiber hood and an unmistakable super gloss finish. The Vossen alloy wheels were hand-made in Miami.

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Dude Ram 1500 concept
The Mopar display at SEMA included The Dude Ram 1500 concept, which combined a design theme inspired by a popular sport trim package from the early 1970s with a performance-oriented and aggressively lowered stance for the street.

Based on a Ram 1500 Big Horn, the concept features a striking Sublime Green exterior that calls back the vintage "Dude" C-stripes in contrasting satin black, running the full length of the truck. Adding to the eye-catching color contrast are black exterior features including: hood side and scoop bezel stripes on the custom performance hood, lower front grille and grille surround, roof and mirrors, and tailgate with Ram-branded graphic.

The lowered Dude concept rides on satin black 22-by-10-in. wheels. A custom front splitter and side sills accent the lowered stance. Adding to the performance look, side-exit exhausts with black tips empty out in front of the rear wheels on both sides.

Ample power under the hood comes from the iconic 5.7-L HEMI V-8 with 395 hp and upgraded with a Mopar cold-air intake.

Inside the cabin, the color contrast continues. Alea leather seats, front and rear, feature bright green stitching surrounded by dark door trim pieces. A custom-designed instrument panel badge features The Dude logo in bright green. To finish off the interior, Mopar adds an in-console safe to secure valuables, a multi-accessory instrument panel rail, and all-weather floor mats.

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept
Like any responsible camper, the Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept can venture deep to the great outdoors, tread lightly, and leave no traces, thanks to its hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEV) and battery electric (BEV) technologies that deliver only water as the tailpipe emissions built into the proven TNGA-F truck platform.

The Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept will never leave a friend behind, because it features a 15-kW power takeoff capable of running something as power-intensive as a home off-grid or even charging two EVs simultaneously via dual NEMA 14-50 outlets. That way, compatriots in battery electric-powered off-roaders will never find themselves stranded on the trail.

When the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) team (USA) isn't building snarling engines for NASCAR, it's serving as a skunkworks for Toyota, solving complex problems in ways that take Toyota's sustainability goals to heart. The Tacoma H2-Overlander was engineered and built by TRD engineering teams in California and North Carolina, backed by the strong technical expertise of Toyota Motor North America R&D for the SEMA show. It highlights the potential of hydrogen fuel cells and the many places they can go. With 547 hp from two electric motors, a near-silent powertrain, and plenty of camping innovations, there's a whole lot of "go" in this concept. What's more, the patent-pending TRD exhaust water-recovery system captures and filters one of the only byproducts of the hydrogen fuel cell stack -- water -- for camping and outdoor use.

The Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept integrates a second-gen Toyota Mirai fuel cell stack and three hydrogen tanks housed within its frame rails, with 6 kg of capacity. Fuel cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen, creating a chemical reaction that produces electricity and water vapor. The powertrain is paired with a 24.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Together, they power a 225-kW front motor and a 188-kW eAxle and deliver the quick response, torque, and regenerative capability of a battery-electric vehicle using electric motors combined with the quicker refueling benefits of hydrogen.

The nearly instantaneous torque of the electrified powertrain is routed through a front limited-slip differential and rear electronic locking differential, making this a true four-wheel-drive overlanding machine. Chassis and suspension upgrades reinforce the concept's overlanding mission. Inside the wheel wells, a TRD billet long-travel kit with heavy-duty, high-performance Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Series shocks -- adapted from Toyota Tundra suspension development -- ensures increased articulation and shock absorption over rough terrain.

Improved stopping performance comes courtesy of a Tundra front brake upgrade, while custom 17 x 8.5-in. wheels mounted with aggressive, 35 x 12.5R17, off-road tires provide traction. The Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept relies on a TRD custom cooling system, adapted from Tacoma TRD Pro and Lexus RZ components, to ensure thermal stability for the hydrogen and electric systems under load.

The exterior includes a customized overlanding camper fitted with recycled carbon-fiber aero panels. It also features heavy-duty, off-road bumpers front and rear, integrated recovery points, a winch, and dual swingouts. The team integrated tiedowns and a recovery board storage system in the bed. Specialized, DOT-compliant lighting includes front lightbars, fog lights, and camp lighting.

Sources: Toyota, Nissan, Infiniti, Mopar, Stellantis, Platinum Motorsport, Urban Automotive, Toyota Racing Development

Published November 2025

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