Japanese tuner turns Honda WR-V into classic Jeep Cherokee

It seems there’s no stopping Japanese tuners from turning back the clock on certain vehicles to remember the good ol’ days. Take DAMD, for example. The company is famous for transforming the Suzuki Jimny into a “mini” Land Rover Defender, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and classic Ford Bronco. They even paid tribute to the Lancia Delta HF Integrale and the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo.

For this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, DAMD will be showcasing “retrofied” vehicles again. But instead of transforming the Jimny like before, DAMD has instead chosen new vehicles to get a retro-inspired redesign. Let’s start with the WR-V Reverb which is DAMD’s homage to the Jeep Cherokee XJ. That’s right, the Honda WR-V trades its modern looks for vintage character thanks to the tuner’s vision.

The front end of the WR-V Reverb gets a new six-slot grille and square headlights that are reminiscent of the Cherokee’s old-school charm. It also comes with a boxier hood and a more rugged-looking front bumper that further highlights the vehicle’s transformation. Other key changes include wood-style accents on the doors, aluminum accents, and black steel wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich M/T tires.

Up next is the Toyota Sienta Stuart. While it may not be as flashy as the WR-V Reverb, this "retrofied" vehicle comes with bags of character. Borrowing inspiration from British classics, the Sienta Stuart gets what appears to be a front end that’s inspired by the old-school Mini. With its bold grille, circular turn signals, and round headlights, the Sienta Stuart would look great on British roads.

Last but not least is the Taft Lucky which is based on the Daihatsu Taft kei car. Built to serve as a modern version of the brand’s iconic Rocky F300 (AKA the Daihatsu Feroza), the Taft Lucky gets square headlights, a more upright front end, vintage two-tone colors, classic-style alloy wheels, and an old-school front grille. Did we mention the cabin gets a plaid interior for that extra retro vibe?

Want to see DAMD’s latest retro-inspired vehicles? If you happen to be in Tokyo, Japan, the WR-V Reverb, Sienta Stuart, and the Taft Lucky will all be present at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon.