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If you’ve ever thought the Toyota RAV4 didn’t look badass enough, Kuhl Racing’s build for the Tokyo Auto Salon fixes that rather nicely.
The VRARVA Mars, as it is known, is a complete cosmetic reworking of Toyota’s popular mid-sized SUV. Inspired by military hardware, the angular and aggressive design is reminiscent of vehicles like the Rezvani Tank.
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The body kit completely reworks the front end, featuring a new black lower bumper, and a redesigned grille. It also includes new front fenders to match with bulky rectangular pumped guards, and a replacement hood. Other touches include overpanels mounted on the doors to provide a mild widebody look, and a black wrap climbing up the sills to the lower doors.
The rear hasn’t been spared from the futuristic beefcake treatment, either. The new rear bumper looks suitably modern, and there’s a huge set of fender flares with a vent at the back, presumably solely for the visual flair. The bodywork looks particularly sharp paired with the black 17-inch Vrarva DW wheels, wearing brawny Dunlop Grantrek AT5 off-road tires. A set of BLITZ coilovers add a two-inch lift for a better stance. Inside, a set of new floormats and seat covers help complete the theme.
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The build was well received at Tokyo Auto Salon, netting Kuhl Racing the Grand Prize for the International Custom Car Contest. If you desire a VRARVA Mars of your very own, Kuhl Racing will sell you a complete build based on a new front-wheel-drive RAV 4 for 4,290,000 yen, or roughly $33,400 USD. The company will also gladly build the car based on higher-end AWD models if so desired.
Alternatively, the body kit can be purchased for approximately $16,700 USD, including painting and installation. Expect to pay a different price if you want the parts delivered outside of Japan.
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The VRARVA Mars looks like a hardcore off-roader, even if the RAV4 really isn’t. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from buying the bodykit and then building a more capable RAV4 with further modifications. Given the aggressive aesthetic, you’d be sure to draw more than a few eyes out on the trail behind the wheel of such a machine.
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