Toyota shows off custom-built Tacoma and a trio of Supras for SEMA 360
This is the time of year when we’d normally be covering the SEMA show in Las Vegas, but this isn’t a normal year. While the SEMA show won’t be happening in person, many companies are participating in SEMA360, a series of online events that highlight new products in the automotive aftermarket. Toyota typically has an impressive spread of off-road and track vehicles to show off and has kept the tradition going with a Tacoma and a trio of Supras to show what enthusiasts can do with a bit of custom work.
Overland-Ready Tacoma
Overlanding isn’t about technical rock-crawling or high-speed pre-running, it’s about venturing into nature for unique experiences and just as importantly, making it back home. That’s why this Tacoma TRD from 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine doesn’t have a wild suspension or lots of hard-to-find or one-off parts. This careful combination of components increased the reach of the Tacoma and helps ensure that its occupants can be comfortable when they get to the trail’s end each night.
The suspension uses ToyTec BOSS Aluma 2.5 Series coilovers, shocks, and an add-a-leaf for just a bit more height and Camburg Engineering upper control arms and CBI Offroad Fabrication lower control arms for improved wheel travel up front. It’s enough to fit 255/85R16 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires on 704 Trail Series wheels from Method Race Wheels. Those are just a hair over 33 inches tall, providing a boost in ground clearance and grip for any terrain.
All of that extra trail-conquering ability is enhanced by an aluminum front bumper from CBI that’s fitted with a ComeUp SEAL Gen2 9.5rs winch. CBI also supplied the steel rear bumper with its dual swingouts and additional trail protection by way of underbody armor and rock rails.
In addition to the winch, a High-Lift jack and MaxTrax traction boards help keep the Tacoma out of any tough spots on the trail. Once back on the road, a PowerTank PT10 air tank makes for quick tire inflation. It can also help in case there are any air mattresses in the Yakima tent mounted on the bed rack.
All of the added gear did increase the Tacoma’s curb weight a bit, but a Magnuson TVS1900 supercharger more than makes up with it by boosting the V-6’s output to 370 horses.
Most of these modifications could be done by an average DIY mechanic over the course of a few weekends, leaving the builder with a capable camping rig that can also comfortably double as a daily driver.
Ornamental Conifer GR Supra
British artist Nicolai Sclater, known as Ornamental Conifer, has created this hand-painted art car by applying enamel onto a GR Supra via paintbrush. The bold lettering is an homage to traditional sign painting and is a contrast to the vinyl wraps typically seen on project cars.
Papadakis Formula D GR Supra
This Supra build has already been making waves in Formula Drift, where its tuned B58 inline-six engine has been shredding tires. A ported cylinder, 3D-printed intake manifold, and a BorgWarner EFR 9280 turbocharger on a Full Race turbo manifold help the six move lots of air while AEM pumps and Injector Dynamics injectors feed the fuel. With so much power and high-RPM usage in store for the drift machine, Papadakis Racing went with BC forged steel connecting rods, forged JE pistons, and Supertech Performance valvetrain. The build recipe netted 1033 horsepower and 908 lb.-ft. of torque, more than enough to send this GR sideways in a plume of tire smoke.
GReddy Performance GR Supra
Another battle-proven drift machine, the GReddy Performance GR Supra was built in partnership with Ken Gushi Motorsports and sees additional airflow using the same BorgWarner EFR 9280 turbocharger as Papadakis Racing chose for its build. The 3.0-liter six is bolted to a Samsonas six-speed sequential transmission and turns Rays Gram Lights 57DR wheels that fill the widened fenders of a Pandem Rocket Bunny body kit.
Even though SEMA 2020 is not the same as before, we can still see that the automotive aftermarket is alive and well, creating parts and accessories for all sorts of enthusiasts.
