toyota swaps wheels for snow tracks in five arctic-ready concept vehicles
developed by calty design research for sema 2026, the five concepts combine white snow tracks, arctic camouflage and expedition gear for extreme winter exploration.
prefer designboom on google[FEATURED]
TOYOTA SNOWHUNTER CONCEPTS REPLACE WHEELS WITH WHITE TRACKS
Toyota has unveiled five Snowhunter concept vehicles that trade conventional wheels for snow tracks, turning some of its best-known trucks and SUVs into machines built for extreme winter exploration. Presented ahead of the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the collection includes modified versions of the Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia. Rather than creating five identical vehicles, the Japanese automaker has given each model a different purpose, from navigating narrow snowy trails to serving as a mobile basecamp in remote landscapes.
Developed by CALTY Design Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Snowhunter family shares a distinctive visual identity. White powder-coated snow tracks replace traditional wheels, while custom camouflage graphics, Snowhunter badging, and gloss-black accents give the vehicles a coordinated appearance. All five feature auxiliary lighting by Rigid Industries and suspension lift components from Toyota Genuine Parts and Toyota Racing Development (TRD). The oversized tracks dramatically alter their proportions, transforming familiar automotive silhouettes into something closer to polar expedition machines.
CALTY DESIGN RESEARCH ADAPTS FIVE TOYOTA MODELS FOR WINTER
The Tundra Snowhunter is conceived as a mobile basecamp, with a CALTY-designed TrailLift Pro Rack System that transforms its cargo bed into a configurable storage platform. Its articulating upper rack can be lowered to simplify loading bulky equipment, including bicycles, kayaks, and canoes. The smaller Tacoma Snowhunter takes a more agile approach, incorporating a roof rack, a full-length bed rack with MOLLE panels, an awning, recovery equipment, and additional lighting. Toyota envisions this configuration for narrow trails and self-supported winter expeditions.
Meanwhile, the 4Runner Snowhunter combines Toyota rock rails with a Prinsu roof rack and a Thule Pulse 2 cargo box, providing additional protection and storage for extended journeys. The Land Cruiser Snowhunter takes a similar approach, adding underbody skid plates and a Thule SnowPack ski rack. With its protective equipment and roof-mounted accessories, the SUV is configured for winter sports and travel across remote terrain, where conventional road conditions are something of a distant memory.
SNOWHUNTER CONCEPTS EXPLORE FORMS OF OFF-ROAD TRAVEL
The largest member of the family, the Sequoia Snowhunter, focuses on carrying passengers and equipment during longer journeys. Its modifications include a TRD front skid plate, cast-aluminum running boards, a Prinsu roof rack, and a Thule cargo box. Across the five vehicles, the design strategy goes beyond simply replacing wheels with tracks. Each configuration explores how storage systems, protective components, and outdoor accessories can adapt an existing vehicle to different forms of winter travel.
Toyota will showcase the Snowhunter concepts at the 2026 SEMA Show, taking place from November 3 to 6 in Las Vegas. The automaker has clarified that these are special-project prototypes, modified with components that may not be commercially available or legal for public-road use. No production plans have been announced. For now, the five vehicles remain an exercise in automotive customization, exploring just how far Toyota’s off-road lineup can go when the roads disappear beneath the snow.
shop
your own online design shop — no sales commission collected
