This Head-tuning ‘Mitsuoka Buddy’ Is A Toyota RAV4 SUV In Disguise

This uniquely restyled Toyota RAV4 Crossover SUV called the Buddy was created by Japanese coachbuilder, Mitsuoka.

Buddy retained the base RAV4’s chassis and powertrain, but Mitsuoka give it a unique 1980s American SUV look.

To give the retro-style look, modifications were done to the front grille, headlamps rear end and the interior.

2023 Mitsuoka Buddy

2023 Mitsuoka Buddy

Back in 2020, a uniquely restyled Toyota RAV4 Crossover SUV called the Mitsuoka Buddy was unveiled by Mitsuoka, a Japanese coachbuilder known for its retro American styling.

Buddy was based on the the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4, a model which made its debut in 2019 and adopted a new platform based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA).

While the Buddy retained the base RAV4’s chassis and powertrain, Mitsuoka give it a unique 1980s American SUV look, with modifications done to the front grille, headlamps rear end and the interior.

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On the outside, the front mask features an impressive reverse-slant nose, while the tyres and wheels add a finishing touch to the overall look.

“The vintage-style exterior and modern, active interior match a variety of lifestyles, from outdoor living to stylish city driving,” the company said of the limited-series RAV4-based Buddy.

Though the Japan-only Buddy is now sold out, then it sold for 4,697,000 yen ($43,000) for a 2.0-liter gasoline vehicle and 5,250,300 yen ($48,000) for a 2.5-liter hybrid vehicle,” per Car Watch.

Some of Mitsuoka’s past creations includes BUBU Classic SSK, a replica of the Mercedes-Benz SSK roadster based on the Volkswagen Beetle and Ryoga, a styled sedan originally based on the Primera and later on the smaller Sunny.

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