• Toyota’s president teased a mid-engine surprise for the show.
  • It turned out to be two modified kei trucks, not an MR2.
  • GR’s lifted concept narrowly beat the rival truck in a vote.

Akio Toyoda managed to catch everyone off guard with a well-played teaser ahead of the Tokyo Auto Salon. The Toyota president had announced that he’d purchased a mid-engined, two-seater to be customized for the show. Naturally, this sparked talk of an MR2 revival. In reality, what he was referring to was a rugged little kei truck. Well played, sir.

The mysterious machine is based on the Daihatsu Hijet Truck, a cabover kei truck with a naturally mid-mounted engine and two seats, as the layout dictates. Technically, that matches Toyoda’s description, but the end result couldn’t be farther from the sleek GR-branded coupe fans were hoping for.

More: Toyota Refused To Let Akio Toyoda Race With Its Name, So He Entered As A Website

Toyoda, known for racing under the name “Morizo,” didn’t just pick up a stock Daihatsu Hijet. Instead, he enlisted both Gazoo Racing and Daihatsu to build their own wild takes on the tiny truck, with visitors at the Tokyo Auto Salon invited to vote on their favorite. Toyoda described the head-to-head as a “parent-child quarrel,” a not-so-subtle nod to the Toyota-Daihatsu dynamic.

Gazoo Racing’s creation is the Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail. Daihatsu answered with the Hijet Jumbo Star Climber. These are one-off concepts, never intended for production. Only Morizo will get to drive away in the winning truck.

GR Hijet Goes Off-Road

The GR-branded Hijet is designed to tackle dirt. It rides on oversized wheels and has been equipped with a suspension lift kit. Up front, the shock absorbers come from the GR 86, and the compact 660cc engine has been turbocharged for more grunt.

Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally

Beyond the mechanical upgrades and big wheels, the GR Hijet wears a completely reworked front end, borrowing grille and bumper design cues from the Land Cruiser Series 300. It keeps the standard halogen headlights but adds an extra row of roof-mounted lights.

More: Toyota Stepped Away So GR Could Grow Into Something Bigger Than Toyota

Other modifications include a protective bull bar at the front, tube doors, side-mounted exhaust pipes from the GR Corolla hot hatch, and a custom roll bar at the back. Finally, the team has fitted the tiny LCV with four independent bucket seats (two mounted on the rear bed) allowing more people to enjoy fun rides with Morizo behind the wheel.

Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo Star Climber
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally

Moving on to the other contestant, the Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo Star Climber is designed for work, play, and rescue. This one is painted in a custom green shade that changes hues depending on the lighting, and features a number of accessories.

More: Mitsubishi Is Throwing A Kei-Car Party At Tokyo While Leaving Pajero Fans Hanging

The cab has been transformed with a tubular frame replacing the windshield and roof, turning it into an open-air runabout. A large front bull bar with an integrated skid plate links to the roof rack, which is fitted with six LED spotlights.

The rear bed has a matching “kangaroo bar” and a lockable cargo box for storing caterpillar tracks. Daihatsu didn’t show those in action, but we guess they are destined for upgrading the rear axle when things get really tough.

Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally

Toyota Times / YouTube

The Hijet Star Climber runs on 16-inch wheels wrapped in chunky Yokohama Geolandar tires. It sits four inches higher thanks to a lift kit and comes with extended plastic fenders, full LED lighting, and a snorkel feeding into the turbocharged 660cc engine, which remains mid-mounted.

Inside, it features two Bride bucket seats equipped with four-point harnesses from Sabelt, aluminum pedals, and a custom aftermarket shift knob.

Show Results and Side Notes

Both concepts drew plenty of attention at the Auto Salon, and the final vote came down to the wire. The Toyota GR Hijet Morizo K-Trail clinched the win by just 59 points, earning 3,579 votes against the Star Climber’s 3,520.

Of course, the Morizo-themed specials weren’t the only Hijets at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon. Daihatsu also exhibited the Hijet Truck Panel Van Extend3 and the the chrome-rich PTO Dump Truck Daihatsumei concepts at its own booth. You can catch the full presentations in the videos below.