[The story has been updated with live photos from the Tokyo Auto Salon]
The Tokyo Auto Salon is the perfect place for unusual conversions and this is exactly what Japanese tuner ESB Style has in store for this year. We are talking about the pictured Toyota Probox which has been modified to look like a Land Rover Defender together with a suspension lift for an adventurous stance.
The new bumper closely mirrors the one on the Defender, transforming the exterior of the station wagon. The Toyota emblem is replaced by “TFENDER” lettering on a bonnet extension, while the halogen headlights are modified to look like Land Rover’s LEDs with the help of special covers.
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The new face is combined with a body-colored C-pillar reminiscent of the Defender, a suspension lift kit that increases ground clearance by 30 mm (1.2 inches) or 40 mm (1.6 inches), and a set of white-painted CLS TC01 alloy wheels shod in grippy off-road tires. At the back ESB Style added a custom rear bumper with an oversized skidplate and taillight covers to make them look slimmer.
The “CLS Fox” bodykit is compatible with all variants of the Toyota ProBox 160 series, including the original that was introduced in 2002 and the facelift that followed in 2014. The same applies to the Mazda Familia which is a rebadged version. Mind you, the ProBox is available in both passenger and light commercial vehicle forms in the Japanese market as an affordable station wagon / van fitted with petrol and diesel powertrains.
Interestingly, the Tfender is not a one-off build, as the “CLS Fox” bodykit will be offered for sale. ESB Style already announced pricing on its social media channels, asking ¥90,000 for the front bumper and bonnet add-on, ¥60,000 for the rear bumper, ¥50,000 for the headlight and taillight covers, another ¥50,000 for the seat covers, ¥21,000 for the armrest, and ¥55,000 for the suspension lift kit. Add everything up and the Tfender conversion will cost you ¥326,000 ($2,435) plus the price of the donor Toyota ProBox van.
Besides the Toyota ProBox, ESB Style is also preparing a similar Defenderised version of the Honda N-Van kei car combined with a lift kit. This one will be available from February 2023.
