- Toyota is bringing a new concept to the Tokyo Auto Salon called the RAV4 Dark Side.
- This street-focused study features big fender flares and unique lighting elements.
- An “Outdoor Lifestyle Package” for the RAV4 will also be showcased with off-road upgrades.
The Toyota RAV4 isn’t having the best year. In October, it had experienced four straight months of sales declines year over year. Now, a new concept coming to the Tokyo Auto Salon might give the crossover a bit of life. It’s called the Dark Side and it looks like a breath of fresh air in this segment.
Toyota doesn’t disclose too much about this concept. In fact, what it does say is quite vague. “The DARK SIDE PERFORMANCE exhibited at the venue is a mysterious and futuristic concept model that shows a new side of the RAV4, different from the conventional outdoor image. It recreates the mobility that appears in the world of science fiction such as movies, anime, and games in the real world.”
2026 Toyota RAV4: Is This Our First Look At The Next Generation Compact SUV?
So clearly, this is meant to look like it’s from the future but the styling tells us even more. Right now, Toyota sells a few off-road-focused trims of the RAV4. What it doesn’t offer is a street-focused performance variant. The Dark Side Performance could be exactly that and it looks quite stylish.
Big fender flares add to the drama and huge angular air intakes on the front make this almost look like it could’ve been called the GR RAV4. It also gets some unique lighting elements that surround a closed-off grille, indicating that this might be a battery-electric vehicle. In any case, the SUV that will be displayed at Tokyo is officially a concept, and there’s no word if it could spawn a production version.
In addition to the Dark Side Performance, Toyota unveiled a new Outdoor Lifestyle Package for the RAV4. There are even fewer details about it but a promo shot again gives away some details. It looks like the model will get unique graphics on the front of the RAV4 and it’ll come with fender flares, a roof rack, and perhaps all-terrain tires. The 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon begins on January 10 and concludes at the end of the 12th.
