Over the years, the automotive world has seen its share of peculiar partnerships, and the collaboration between Toyota and Zagato is a prime example. Joining forces in the 2000s, these giants—Toyota, known for its mass-market appeal, and Zagato, famed for crafting bespoke designs for luxury brands—decided to create something unusual: the Toyota Harrier Zagato.
During the mid-2000s, the Lexus RX, known as the Toyota Harrier in Japan, was already into its second generation by 2006, sold under Toyota’s Toyopet retail chain. Celebrating Toyopet’s 50th anniversary, Toyota sought to mark the occasion with a special edition and approached Zagato for the task. Thus, the 2006 Harrier Zagato was born.
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Zagato, renowned for its work on prestigious vehicles like Aston Martins and Ferraris, applied its design ethos to the Harrier Zagato, resulting in a somewhat unconventional appearance. The front received an open grille sans badge, a larger bumper, and a lower lip spoiler with integrated fog lights. Fender flares and lower body cladding adorned the sides, while the rear boasted a roof spoiler and a tweaked bumper. The aesthetic was further enhanced by distinctive gold five-spoke wheels, though the interior largely retained its stock form, save for some aluminum accents.
Despite its unique styling, the Harrier Zagato remained purely cosmetic in terms of performance enhancements. It was powered by either a 2.4-liter I4 or a 3.5-liter V6, the standard engines from the Harrier lineup, available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations. Color choices were limited to black, white, or red, underscoring its exclusive yet restrained appeal.
Rare by design, only 250 units of the Harrier Zagato were ever produced. Surprisingly affordable at launch, prices ranged from $42,000 to $48,000, making it accessible to enthusiasts looking for something distinctive. Today, these models are scarce but can still be found at surprisingly low prices, such as a recent UK sale fetching just under $5,000.
While opinions on the Harrier Zagato’s design may vary, its collaboration between Toyota and Zagato remains a testament to automotive innovation and the unexpected. Such partnerships are rare in the mainstream automotive landscape, making the Harrier Zagato a unique chapter unlikely to be replicated.