Toyota Reveals New Concept – Is This The Truck We’ve Been Waiting For?Before the 6th Gen 4Runner’s launch, there was a big rumor that Toyota might actually bring back the removable top – a nostalgic feature loved by enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, those hopes were crushed when Toyota officially revealed the 2025 4Runner in April. While the new model pays tribute to earlier generations like the 4th and 2nd Gens, the highly anticipated removable roof was sadly nowhere to be seen. While that was a letdown for fans, Toyota surprised us!
Enter the TRD Surf Concept – a take on what this 1st Gen 4Runner feature could look like in modern form. Let’s break down this SEMA concept and see what it took to get here.
Table Of Contents
What’s The Inspiration?
Built at Toyota’s Motorsports Garage, the TRD Surf Concept blends retro 80s So-Cal beach vibes and rugged off-road capability. It’s got a fully removable hardtop, functional second-row windows, and even a folding front passenger seat for easy access to the rear seats since Toyota converted the body to a 2-door design, just like the 80s model.
Toyota has a pretty rad YouTube video documenting the journey of the 2025 Limited Pre-Production vehicle they used for the project. In it, they go over the immense level of 3D printing and engineering involved. They even talk about how they tried making the concept with a 5th Gen.
Upgraded Suspension & More
Performance Upgrades
This concept doesn’t just look cool, it also has some serious hardware underneath to get off the beaten path to the ultimate hidden surf spot.
The Surf has long-travel Fox Suspension and hydraulic rear bump stops. To complement the suspension, there are custom TRD billet upper and lower A-arms, trailing arms, and panhard bar attached to a Tundra rear differential. All of this comes together to enhance it’s off-road ability on the roughest terrain.
The 6G powertrain remains largely untouched but a TRD exhaust was added to help the i-FORCE 4 cylinder breathe better. Finally, the axles and brakes were beefed up to help handle the 37-inch BFG Mud Terrain tires wrapped around custom 17×8.5 TRD polished wheels.
Stylish Interior
Since the TRD Surf is meant to be exposed to the elements, Toyota weatherproofed the interior featuring soft, waterproof flooring and leather seats. As mentioned above, this concept converted the 4Runner to a 2-door design, so the front passenger seat folds forward for easier rear seat access.
The custom interior is accompanied by a “Travel Quiver” surfboard made just for this concept vehicle. It’s designed to fit perfectly on the roof rack or stick out the back.
Should Toyota Build This?
There’s a huge demand for vehicles that mix nostalgia with modern engineering. The Ford Bronco’s re-release was a huge indicator of that.
For Toyota enthusiasts, a modernized 1st Gen would undoubtedly be well-received. Fans are eating up this concept on my social media channels, so maybe Toyota is onto something here.
Final Thoughts
Seeing a concept like this makes it hard not to get our hopes up. I’d be first in line if Toyota ever decided to bring this to production. While Toyota has historically played it safe with big concepts like last year’s high-horsepower X-Runner Tacoma, there’s no doubt they know how to get people excited.
Concepts like these show just how far Toyota can push the boundaries of engineering and design. They’re also a great way to gauge public interest. So, if you want to see the TRD Surf make it to production, let them know! Share your thoughts in the comments below—who else would be pumped to buy one if it hit the market?
Here’s to hoping they’ll consider bringing it, or something similar, to dealerships soon!
Shut up and take my money!
Toyota needs to put this into production.
I would be interested in seeing this concept come to fruition and be available for purchase.
So many of the options are already done by the factory eliminating aftermarket issues.
I have an overlanding set-up for my 2017 4Runner, but I’d buy that. In addition or in place f! Love the topless look!