Toyota’s forgotten X-Runner concept was designed as a fitting rival to Aussie utes like the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore
- The Toyota X-Runner Concept reimagined the Avalon sedan as a rugged two-door pickup.
- All-wheel drive and lifted suspension gave the Avalon-based ute a unique off-road edge.
- Developed by Toyota Australia, the concept never made it to showrooms or full production.
What if your dad’s sensible sedan suddenly showed up with a lift kit and a tray in the back? Back in 2003, Toyota Australia flirted with an idea that sounded just strange enough to work: turning the Avalon sedan into a rugged, all-wheel-drive pickup truck.
It might sound unlikely today, but at the time, the project was serious enough to make it to the motor show circuit. The result was the Toyota X-Runner Concept, an offbeat yet intriguing attempt to combine sedan comfort with ute practicality and a dose of outdoorsy flair.
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At first glance, it seemed like a long shot. But the X-Runner was no idle sketch. Toyota Australia developed a fully functional concept and gave it a proper spotlight at the Melbourne and Sydney Motor Shows, presenting it as a potential production model. Their goal was to showcase the company’s local R&D chops while taking on homegrown rivals like the Ford Falcon Ute and Holden Ute.
The study was based on the first-generation Avalon, which launched globally in 1994 and made its Australian debut in 2000. From there, the transformation was dramatic. The Avalon’s traditional sedan shell gave way to a two-door utility body with a longer rear bed, widened fenders, and white 19-inch wheels. Custom bumpers and integrated skid plates added to the off-road flavor.
A Sedan Turned Ute
Toyota Australia
To support the new bodywork, Toyota stretched the Avalon’s wheelbase by 150 mm (about 5.9 inches), making room for more cargo. A side-hinged tailgate featured a removable storage compartment, while the tray and cabin were filled with what can only be described as early-2000s lifestyle excess. Think mountain bikes, a 17-inch plasma screen with GPS tracking, a mini fridge, and leather sport seats borrowed from the Toyota Supra.
But the X-Runner wasn’t just about flash. One of its standout features was a lifted suspension setup, boosting ground clearance to 210 mm (8.3 inches). Most of the suspension hardware came from the Lexus RX SUV of the time, while the rear axle was sourced from the Toyota Tarago light commercial van. The combination helped solve packaging issues while also giving the X-Runner more capabilities than the average car-derived ute.
Another key advantage was all-wheel drive, again lifted from the RX. That alone gave it a leg up on the rear-wheel-drive-only Falcons and Holdens, potentially appealing to buyers who needed traction in more than just a straight line.
Supercharged V6 Power
Under the hood, things got even more interesting. Toyota fitted a supercharged version of its 3.0-liter V6, paired with a four-speed automatic. Thanks to the TRD blower, power rose to 248 hp (185 kW / 252 PS) and torque climbed to 330 Nm (243 lb-ft), a noticeable jump from the naturally aspirated Avalon engine, which made 200 hp and 290 Nm by comparison.
Despite the buzz and a strong push from Toyota Australia, the X-Runner never made it past the concept stage. Market appeal was likely too limited, given its Australia-specific design, and the Avalon itself was nearing the end of its local run. It was replaced by the Toyota Aurion in 2006, leaving the X-Runner as a quirky one-off from a time when car companies weren’t afraid to try something a little different.
As for the Avalon nameplate, it carried on elsewhere. The current fifth-generation of the Avalon was introduced in 2018. While the large sedan was axed from the US lineup after the 2022 model year, it remains on sale in China where it received two consecutive upgrades in 2022 and in 2024.
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