Toyota Gazoo Racing wowed Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 with a bold mid‑engine kei‑truck concept that mixes sport‑car flair and mini‑pickup styling. Learn more now!
At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota Gazoo Racing turned heads not with a sleek sports car, but with a surprisingly quirky reinterpretation of a kei‑truck – the Japanese‑market “mini‑pickup” that usually hauls small loads.
Prior to the show, the company teased a two‑seat, mid‑engine machine that sparked rumors of a compact sports car revival. When the curtains lifted, however, the vehicle on stage was a heavily modified Daihatsu Hijet chassis, stripped down to a narrow cabin, a rear‑mounted engine and a cargo box that looked more like a styling cue than a functional bed.
Design cues and racing DNA
The concept keeps the tiny dimensions of a kei‑truck – under 3.4 metres long and compliant with Japan’s light‑vehicle regulations – but re‑arranges everything around the engine. The power unit sits behind the two seats, giving the car a genuine “mid‑engine” balance that’s rare for a utility vehicle. The cabin is trimmed to a racing silhouette, complete with a carbon‑fiber roll‑cage, bolstered bucket seats and oversized slick‑style tires that hint at track‑day ambitions.
While Toyota did not release any performance figures, the presence of race‑oriented components such as a stripped‑down chassis, a racing‑style seat harness and a wide‑track wheel package suggests the model is intended more as a test‑bed for ideas than a production blueprint.
Why a kei‑truck?
In Japan, kei‑vehicles are celebrated for their efficiency, low taxes and nimble handling. By placing a sport‑car‑like powertrain in this format, Toyota aims to explore how far performance can be pushed while still respecting the strict size and displacement limits that define the class. The project also underscores the collaboration between Toyota’s motorsport arm and its subsidiary Daihatsu, which traditionally builds these compact workhorses.
Reception and what’s next
Fans hoping for a full‑blown mini‑sports car were understandably surprised. The concept skews more toward a “what‑if” showcase – a playful experiment that asks whether a high‑revving engine, racing seat and aggressive styling can coexist with the utilitarian spirit of a kei‑truck.
Historically, Toyota Gazoo Racing has used the Tokyo Auto Salon as a sandbox for avant‑garde projects that never see the showroom floor. This kei‑truck continues that tradition, offering a glimpse into the brand’s willingness to break conventions and test bold ideas without the pressure of immediate mass‑production.
Whether the mid‑engine kei‑truck will evolve into a limited‑run roadster, a rally‑ready cup car or simply remain a concept piece is still unknown. What’s clear is that Toyota isn’t afraid to blend quirky design with racing technology, and the automotive world will be watching the next chapter closely.