Toyota's Wild Side-by-Side Wows SEMA, But Will They Actually Build it?

At this year's SEMA, Toyota representatives say the powerful concept's future is "dependent on public response"—and that response has been massive.

The biggest unveiling at SEMA 2025 wasn't just another modified truck. It was a complete surprise from Toyota: a fully-engineered, high-performance side-by-side (SxS) concept that drew a "massive crowd" that "hasn't dissipated," according to AutoGuide's James Reeves.

The vehicle, which official press materials identify as the "Scion 01 Concept," is a serious machine. But as with any SEMA build, the real question on everyone's mind is: Is this just a wild concept, or is Toyota testing the waters to enter the powersports market?

In an interview at the show, Toyota's project team lead, Peter, and product specialist, Todd, gave a clear—if non-committal—answer: it's up to the public.

Why a Side-by-Side?

For Toyota, the move is a logical, if new, step. The project was born from an advanced development group within R&D looking for "new mobility spaces."

"I don't know if you know, 30% of the United States is public land, 40% is farmland," Todd explained. "What if 70% of the land mass can be accessed by non-plated vehicles? That's a new mobility place for us to go."

The concept, which revives the "Scion" name as a laboratory for new ideas, is seen as a "strong adjacency" to Toyota's dominant truck business. It's a way to leverage the brand's legendary off-road heritage and reputation for QDR (Quality, Durability, and Reliability) in a completely different product category.

An Automotive-Grade UTV

This concept is far from a simple tube-frame buggy. Toyota brought its full automotive engineering prowess to the table, creating a vehicle with specs that dwarf the current market.

• Powertrain: The Tacoma i-FORCE MAX 2.4-liter turbo hybrid.
• Power: Over 300 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
• Transmission: A real 8-speed automotive transmission, which Todd notes "doesn't exist in this market."
• Chassis: 35-inch tires and 26 inches of usable suspension travel.

The team's goal was pure Toyota. "What we challenged the team is... what if there was a third owner?" Todd said, emphasizing the brand's commitment to long-term reliability.

So, Will They Build It?

This is where the Toyota team remains strategically coy. While other official reports call the vehicle a "design study" with "no confirmed production plans," the message on the SEMA floor was all about gauging public interest.

When AutoGuide's Reeves presented his "SEMA Scale" (where 1 is "never going to happen" and 10 is "coming out this year"), the team dodged a hard number.

"I think this is an awesome concept and we'll see where it goes," Todd replied.

Peter, the project lead, was more direct about their mission. "I think it's really dependent on this public response, and we hope it's positive and we hope that everybody gives us the feedback that we're looking for."

The interviewer, Reeves, read between the lines and pegged the non-answer as a "four."

The verdict? Officially, Toyota says the Scion 01 is just a concept. But unofficially, the team is at SEMA with a "passion project" that is purposefully over-engineered and clearly designed to see if the public is ready for a Toyota-built UTV.

As Todd stated, "I hope [it] becomes reality, but that's not up to me. That's up to the public if they want it."

Given the massive, sustained crowd around the vehicle, that public response appears to be a resounding "yes."