Modern SUVs have become as exciting as hot water. They're all safe, they're all "eco," they all have touchscreens the size of your living room, and they're all designed to get Andreja to school safely without spilling her oat-milk latte. And then there's the Toyota Land Cruiser 250. It's basically a car that says, "Fuck, I'm a blockhead and I'm proud of it." But for Japanese tuning house Kuhl Racing, that wasn't enough. They decided to turn this decent SUV into something Darth Vader would drive if he moved to the countryside and started illegally logging. Introducing the Kuhl Land Cruiser 250 "Blocker Iron Build."
Let's be honest, Kuhl's Toyota Land Cruiser 250 is not car for shy peopleIf you show up in front of the opera house wearing this, people will think you came to demolish the building, not to see Carmen. Kuhl took a standard Toyota and gave it a makeover they call a series Blocker. And the name is appropriate, as this thing blocks the sun for anyone driving behind you.
The most obvious change? The height. The Kuhl Toyota Land Cruiser 250 has been raised by a brutal 178 millimeters (7 inches). That's not a lift, that's a floor. They achieved it with a combination of JAOS adjustable suspension and spacers, which means you're now riding at a height where the air is thinner. But height without the right shoes is like a bodybuilder in ballet flats. That's why they put 22-inch wheels on it Kuhl Verz DDR03, which are shod in massive 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires. These tires are so big they probably have their own gravity.
Steel, steel and some more steel
Kuhl didn't stop at the wheels. The entire body kit is made to survive the zombie apocalypse. Instead of those soft plastic bumpers that crack if you look at them too hard, this monster has steel protection. The front bumper is reduced to a minimum for a better approach angle, while the fenders are widened with 70 mm diameter pipe trims. Yes, you read that right, pipes.
On the roof of Kuhl Toyota Land Cruiser Rox and 4Runner TRD Surf: The legendary SUV in a new, convertible guise The 250 is dominated by a trunk with an integrated LED strip that probably shines brighter than the floodlights at the Stožice stadium. If you turn this on on the highway, the driver in front of you will think he is being abducted by aliens. And because getting into a car with sills almost half a meter (399 mm or 15.7 inches of ground clearance to be exact) above the ground is a workout, they added robust side steps. Without them, you would need mountaineering equipment to get in.
What's under the hood? (Here comes the irony)
Now we come to the part where the cynicism has to kick in. The Japanese demo model you see in the pictures is powered by – don’t laugh – a 2.7-liter gasoline engine. This naturally aspirated four-cylinder makes 120 kW (163 hp) and 246 Nm (181 lb-ft) of torque. Come on. It’s like giving Arnold Schwarzenegger a hamster heart in his prime. With those 37-inch wheels and brick-like aerodynamics, the 0-62 mph acceleration will probably be measured by a calendar, and the top speed is probably somewhere around where other cars shift into third gear.
Fortunately, Toyota also offers (and Kuhl is probably happy to convert) a 2.8-liter turbodiesel (1GD-FTV) that produces a healthier 150 kW (204 hp) and, most importantly, 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. This is the engine you want. It will move this tank from a standstill without the engine sounding like it’s begging for mercy. Battery capacity on hybrid versions (where available) is small, around 1.87 kWh, but this isn’t about electricity. It’s about raw, mechanical dominance.
Interior: The calm before the storm
If the exterior is “Mad Max,” the interior is surprisingly civilized. This is still a Toyota. You have comfortable seats, excellent air conditioning (which is a must when you’re sweating while maneuvering this ship through narrow streets) and all the modern technology. Kuhl does offer a few of its own extras, like floor mats and some logo, but the point remains functionality. The trunk is huge, although you’ll need a forklift to load heavier items into it due to the vehicle’s height.
Conclusion: Do you need it?
Absolutely not. Nobody needs a 7-inch lift to drive on BTC. Nobody needs steel pipes instead of fenders to park in front of the kindergarten. But do you want one? Oh, yes. The Kuhl Land Cruiser 250 is the antithesis of boredom. It's proof that cars can still have a soul, even if that soul is a little unbalanced and drinks too much. The price of the conversion in Japan starts at around 920,000 JPY (about 5,700 EUR) for the kit alone, while the entire car costs around 6.79 million JPY (about 42,000 EUR). Of course, when (if) you get it to Europe, add tax, customs and a nervous breakdown at homologation.
But you know what? In a world where everyone is trying to be inconspicuous and politically correct, riding a machine like this is an act of rebellion. And that's something I'll always welcome. Even if everyone passes me Clio on the road.
