This V12-Powered Toyota Is A 750-HP Minibus Taxi

If you've ever spent any time in South Africa, you're undoubtedly familiar with the love/hate relationship citizens have with minibus taxis. Unlike other countries where a taxi is a traditional sedan or crossover, the moniker is used to describe a public transportation system that is rather unique to the African nation.

Jokingly referred to as South Africa's fastest car, the previous-gen Toyota Quantum (now known as the Hi-Ace Ses'fikile) is available with either a 2.7-liter gas- or 2.5-liter diesel engine. Both are reliable, but neither is what you'd call sprightly. Certainly, it wasn't enough for one local, who decided to fit a far more powerful engine in his Quantum.

Normally the reserve of supercars, this aggressively styled, Lamborghini-inspired minibus boasts a V12 engine and is the result of hard work, many months of labor, and tens of thousands of dollars, as owner James Redelinghuis told Cars.co.za.

"Five years ago, we were buying Toyota Quantum panel vans which we converted and [sold] as taxis. At that point, we decided [to] do something for marketing purposes [that was] also creative. Redelinghuis says he came across a Japanese company that created a Lamborghini Aventador-inspired body kit. "This, for me, is one of the coolest cars I've ever seen." The kit was purchased for 96,000 Rand (approx $6,200) and fitted to a 2012 Quantum.

The standard 2.5-liter wasn't going to cut it. The owner sourced a Toyota V12, the engine famously fitted to older Toyota Century luxury sedans. It's a glorious motor, with one gearhead even putting the 5.0-liter 12-pot in his Impreza STI. Two turbochargers were fitted to the engine and the original injectors were replaced by items from a Porsche 911 (997) 3.8 Carrera, among other modifications. The end result? 750 horsepower. Interestingly, because the Quantum was designed to carry heavy loads, the front brakes are potent enough to slow this powerful minibus down.