Twin-Turbo V12 Hilux is the Best Kind of Insane

The 1GZ-FE is an automotive jewel fit for an emperor — and this V12 Toyota Hilux is in a class all its own.

When Francois Fritz was looking build out his Toyota Hilux, he wanted big power, but he also didn’t want an obvious solution. So instead of the capable and common 2JZ mill, he decided to go with a 1GZ-FE — one of the most unique Japanese engines ever made. For those unfamiliar, Toyota’s 1GZ-FE is a 5.0-liter V12 which was only available in the Century, the company’s Japanese flagship sedan, and the ride of choice for the country’s corporate titans.

While the engine was designed with silky smooth operation — and not, say, burnouts — in mind, the wizards of the world’s tuning scene have predictably long harbored a fascination with the JDM 12-pot. And with this build, Fritz has done it justice. Now, the monster mill features full forged internals, twin turbos, and some of the prettiest intercooler plumbing I’ve seen in ages. At this point,  he’s only running 0.5 bars of boost, so there’s a lot of poke left on the table. But all the greasy bits have been built to withstand 1,200 horsepower.

Or, perhaps I should say most of the greasy bits. Because as Fritz explains in the clip, the output of the 12-cylinder terror has claimed at four or five gearboxes to date. Currently, there’s a four-speed auto plucked from a Supra handling shifting duties, but a suitably robust manual transmission is on the way. So yeah, if you were wondering whether this project could get any cooler? Well, it will, as soon as the supply chain issues catch up to Fritz’s ambitions for this most wicked of rigs.

As you can see in the video, this is no slap-dash build. The Hilux still has a full interior, the firewall remains in the stock location, and nothing has been cut. Even the front suspension is basically stock, because at the end of the day, the 1GZ-FE isn’t all that big. While Fritz says this could be converted right back to a standard Hilux, don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen. I’ll be following Speed and Sound to keep tabs on this build, so stay tuned for updates. How close do you think this is to the “final” product?

Photos: Toyota 

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