The Japanese tuner brought standard, high-rider, and low-rider variants of the pickup at the Tokyo Auto Salon
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by Thanos Pappas
2 hours ago
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by Thanos Pappas
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More tuners are keen to present retro-inspired body kits for modern vehicles, thanks to the ever-growing demand. The latest to join the trend is Axell Auto, a Japanese tuner based in the city of Nagoya, which presented the “Brody” bodykit for the Toyota Hilux pickup at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
The fully redesigned front end makes the pickup look a lot boxier, kind of similar to the style of the J60 and J80 generations of the Land Cruiser, rather than older derivatives of the Hilux. The rectangular grille with vertical slits is combined with two sets of square LED headlights and separate indicators, all surrounded by a single chrome panel. The bonnet is flatter and higher than in the stock Hilux, while the front fenders are cut-off in order to be compatible with the new ’80s-style chrome bumper.
The result reminds us of the Land Cruiser conversions by Renoca, and makes the Toyota Hilux virtually unrecognizable when looked at from the front. The front overhang would be too long for a legitimate old off-roader, but this was a limitation of the underpinnings of the eight-gen Hilux. The side and rear body panels are carried over from the factory-spec pickup although Axell Auto offers plenty of customization options to spice it up.
At the Tokyo Auto Salon, the tuner showcased a trio of Toyota Hilux Brody conversions with different specifications. The blue pickup is the “standard” version, riding on 17-inch wheels shod in Yokohama Geolander X-AT tires. Most of the exterior trim is finished in glossy black, while the rear bed benefits from an aftermarket canopy with integrated windows.
On the other hand, the urban khaki “Lowdown” pickup features lowered suspension and a set of Yokohama Advan Sport tires. This one comes with a rear bed cover that can lift for transporting larger items like a motorbike.
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Last but not least, the bronze-painted “HighLift” truck literally takes things to another level thanks to the suspension lift and the off-road accessories. Those include an LED lightbar on the front bumper, all-terrain tires, a roof-mounted tent accessible through a ladder, a camping kit for the rear bed, side exhaust pipes, and plenty of shiny chrome.
We don’t know the cost of the conversion but the extent of the visual modifications on the front end likely means it won’t come cheap. Still, it is a cool way of refreshing your Toyota Hilux, making it look quite different than anything else on the roads.
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