'Remember how it felt to be king of the sandpit?' asks Toyota's promo video for this incredible Hilux Tonka Concept. Without ever having been the king it's hard to know, but this full size Tonka toy does look jolly good fun.
The key theme here is the unbreakable nature of each brand: you couldn't destroy a Tonka toy as a child, and many have famously failed to terminate the Toyota as grown ups. To bolster the Hilux Tonka's credentials in the sandpit - or desert, as it's otherwise known - this car has its ride height increased by 150mm, uprated off-road suspension and 35-inch tyres.
Note as well the bash plate - or sump guard, as we might know it - the additional chassis protection down the side and the bar of LED lights. Just in case somebody missed you coming.
Sadly the Hilux Tonka doesn't come with a fire breathing V8 to thunder across the desert, instead the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel as seen in regular Hiluxes. With the same 175hp as standard but an additional 325kg - kerbweight is now 2,400kg - expect performance to be on the modest side of adequate. Still it's hardly like you'll have to stop when you reach an obstacle, as approach and departure angles are up (now 35 and 30 degrees respectively) in addition to the raised ground clearance. It just might take a while to get there.
Despite a fair amount of production components, there are no plans to create a showroom version of the Tonka Toyota. Instead it will serve to celebrate two significant anniversaries for the brands - Tonka is 70 in 2017, Toyota is 80 - and tour Australia in a series of publicity events. Who fancies a trip to Phillip Island for V8 Supercars next month?
