Much like restomods, Safari sports cars have become all the rage. And much like restomods, they remain the preserve of well-heeled car enthusiasts, with the likes of the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato built in limited numbers whilst commanding a significant premium. Japanese tuner Kuhl Racing however, is aiming to change that with their wonderful looking Toyota GR 86 conversion.

The Outroad GR86 will debut at January's Tokyo Auto Salon, and in exchange for £19,717, Kuhl will fit their own coilover system raising the ride height by 75mm and attach new, heavy-duty off-road body panels plus 18-inch cast wheels and all-terrain tyres. For those requiring additional clearance, an optional hydraulic lift adds another 38mm. 

The changes are more than surface-level however, with the project having been in development for over two years. The makeover includes 25mm bolt-on overfenders that avoid butchering the standard GR 86’s bodywork, plus an extensive aero package: new front and rear bumpers, side steps, steel protection bars front and rear, window louvers, and a custom tubular steel roof carrier designed to mount an LED light bar. Kuhl describes the design philosophy as "Mad Max meets motorsport precision."

Just as interesting is the firm's optional turbo kit. For an additional £6,400, Kuhl will fit a Trust turbocharger, oil cooler, uprated sump, and ECU remap, which pushes the output of the FA24 boxer four to 290bhp – a 62bhp increase over standard. No torque figures or performance claims have been made at this stage. Further options include 18-inch forged wheels, upgraded brakes, Bride bucket seats, and a Cusco roll cage for those planning actual competition use.

While it’s clear the cost of a conversion can quickly spiral if the rally-raid fantasy gets out of hand, the £20,000 asking price includes fitting, painting and Japanese taxes. Kuhl has plans to retrofit the kit to customer cars or offer the components for individual sale. The kit will also be available for the BRZ – which might be the cooler of the two given Subaru’s heritage.

The Outroad GR86 will be displayed at Tokyo Auto Salon from 9-11 January. International distribution seems unlikely at this stage, but grey importers are not ones known for taking no for an answer. 

Toyota itself previewed a similar concept, the Castrol-liveried GR86 Rally Legacy at SEMA 2024, converted to four-wheel drive and running the GR Yaris’s turbo three-pot with gravel-spec suspension, bash plates, and Speedline alloys. That car generated considerable interest but remains a one-off show vehicle with no production plans. Kuhl has at least built something you can actually buy, even if geography prevents most of us from doing so.