This Lambo-faced, V12-powered Toyota HiAce is officially bonkers

What is a modern van if not a boring-looking box on wheels? Many drivers wish their vans felt – or even looked – sportier than they are, but most manufacturers seem averse to the idea. Enter custom Toyota HiAce, a crazy-looking, crazy fast van from many people’s dreams.

The creator of the car, who hails from South Africa, drove a taxi and wanted a truly eye-catching van to draw everyone’s attention. When he learned that Japanese tuning store S.A.D. Custom produces Lamborghini-inspired body kits for the HiAce, he immediately ordered one.

Now, most of us would probably stop there and then. He went on, however, and found a 1GZ-FE V12 engine on sale, which originated from the Toyota Century executive sedan sold only in Japan. Of course, fitting the huge engine onto a van would necessitate many months of design and fabrication work…

After many months of design and fabrication work, the world’s first Century-swapped Toyota HiAce V12 5.0 left the garage, rocking twin turbochargers, Porsche 911 GT3 injectors, and 600 metric horsepower (592 hp / 441 kW).

Rounding things off is a shrill red paintjob that reportedly shines orange in sunlight (we honestly can’t tell because of the filters), and Audi R8 rims. The cabin has been stripped of its original trim and not re-trimmed at the date the photos were made.

How do you like this Lambo van?