Toyota performance meets kei culture
Toyota has caught the automotive world off guard after revealing a kei truck customized by its Gazoo Racing (GR) Garage at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon. When Toyota posted a mysterious clip on X (formerly Twitter) on January 3rd, previewing the return of a mid-engine two-seater, car enthusiasts were almost sure this post foreshadowed the MR2’s return, a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seater produced by the automaker from 1984 to 2007. Toyota also registered a series of “GR MR2” trademarks by the end of 2025 while showcasing a mid-engine GR Yaris prototype at last year’s Auto Salon.
However, many were surprised to find the Gazoo Racing-led concept built on a Daihatsu base named Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail. The GR concept was presented alongside Daithasu’s Hijet Jumbo Star Climber, another new concept at Tokyo Auto Salon, as part of a build-off between the two companies. While Toyota’s reveal has been labeled as a troll-like announcement, this wild kei truck design is intriguing in more ways than one, especially when paired with the Star Climber.
Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail spotlight
On-stage with the kei concept at Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota GR racing and development driver Masahiro Sasaki said, “This is quite difficult, this topic of modifying a kei truck. I’m competing with an OEM [Daihatsu]. We are in the GR Garage, a very small garage.”
GR distinguished its concept by taking the utility-first kei truck ethos and altering it into a fun-first, lifted vehicle specializing in off-roading. Despite being a conventional two-seater truck at its core, Toyota’s concept features two additional bucket seats attached to the rear since “four is more fun than two,” said Sasaki. Daihatsu Executive Vice President Hiromasa Hoshika admired this approach and said he could see the design competing in rallying competitions.
A range of Morizo emblems recognizing Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman and Master Driver Akio Toyoda (a.k.a. Morizo) decorate the interior and exterior, and the grille/bumper draws inspiration from the Land Cruiser Series 300. Roof lights, a front protective bull bar, tubular doors, and a rear roll bar further the vehicle’s philosophy of rugged fun.
On the performance front, the lift comes from oversized wheels and suspension with increased ride height, and its 660cc engine is turbocharged. Side-exit exhaust pipes are derived from the GR Corolla hatchback, and the front is equipped with GR 86 dampers.
A look at Daihatsu’s Hijet Jumbo Star Climber
Despite its more careful balance of work and fun, Daihatsu’s Hijet Jumbo Star Climber has plenty of personality, with an open cockpit and green paint shifting color in different lighting. This open-top design consists of a tubular frame replacing the windshield and roof, lighting is entirely LED, and a four-inch lift kit paired with Yokohama Geolandar tires establish a more confident stance. In contrast, the Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail has halogen headlights.
Like its Toyota counterpart, the Hijet Jumbo Star Climber features a mid-mounted turbocharged 660cc engine and a large front bull bar, but it’s distinguished by an integrated skid plate connected to roof rails, extended plastic fenders, and a snorkel feeding air to the engine. Aluminum pedals add a touch of flair to the interior, while a short-throw gear shifter delivers quicker, more precise shifts.
Which vehicle won the build-off?
Daihatsu Mobility Development Group Chief Officer Masahiro Tanaka said: “We know the kei trucks from every detail. We are the OEM who made this, and we’ve looked at what the kei can do because it’s a kei. It’s about carrying, working, also supporting. We’ve expressed this all in our modification.”
In other words, the GR concept presents a modification from a small garage perspective, while Daihatsu’s is modified from an OEM perspective. To determine which vehicle won, Tokyo Auto Salon organizers had in-person attendees vote. The Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail won by just 59 votes, receiving 3,579 votes against the Star Climber’s 3,520.
