Every year, after walking the floor of the Los Angeles Auto Show once, I take a second lap to see if there's anything I missed. Then, after lunch, I take a third lap to get a closer look at any cars that were surrounded by crowds earlier in the day. On Media Day, when the cars launch, the morning is always busy; as the crowd thins out in the afternoon, there's a chance to double-check each automaker's booth and ensure that there's nothing I've missed.
Not only does this give me plenty of time to stretch my legs, but it's also a great way to get a sense of the cars in a larger context. It's a chance to do a sanity check on my favorite vehicles from the show, search for themes and pop in and out of any vehicles that have debuted once the mania surrounding them has died down. This year, there was a lot to see, if you knew where to look.
Many of the typical brands were absent or had reduced presence, but there were lots of exciting cars both in production and concept form. I thought this thing was a really fun concept when I saw the photos from SEMA, but in person, it's even better. The concept is essentially a 4Runner SUV with the top cut off, meant to fit right in at any Southern-California surf spot.
After chopping the roof and making the 4Runner into a two-door pickup of sorts, Toyota added some off-road bits, custom paint, and a few surf boards for good measure. Officially called the 4Runner TRD Surf Concept (or just TRD Surf for short), the customization work appears to be .