Toyota Fun-Vii
The Fun-Vii is Toyota’s main highlight at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. And that’s strange because it really isn’t a car!
No, it’s a smartphone on wheels. And what a smartphone it is. The whole of the exterior is made of advanced displays that can be used to alter the color of the car or to show media content. Now, we’re not sure what exactly is the use of that and is that safe for other road users or not. But it’s just a experimental car, so it’s alright.
Still, Toyota says this is a car redefines driving fun with extensive personalization and enriching your social life as it can connect with other cars. We don’t see anything to do with the actual job of driving in that. Do you?
Toyota press release:
Imagine changing the look of your car as easily as downloading a phone app or uploading an image to facebook. Imagine a car that reflects how you feel and what you are doing every hour, every minute.
The Toyota Fun-Vii is just such a car.
The Fun-Vii1 is one of several concept cars being shown by Toyota at this week’s Tokyo Motor Show2 under the theme of “Fun to Drive, Again”3. The ultimate in personalisation, the Fun-Vii offers the ability to alter the content displayed on the interior and exterior with the same ease as downloading an application or posting to Instagram.
The whole vehicle body can be used as a display space, with the body colour and display content changeable at will. This allows the entire vehicle to function as a display for messages or images as you choose.
Inside there is more of the same with the interior adjustable to match the mood of the moment. Navigation information is blended into the interior design through the use of augmented reality and the car’s “navigation concierge” can provide the passengers with driving information and guidance through a vocal interface.
A network update function makes sure the software for the vehicle’s drive, control and multimedia system are always up-to-date.
The Fun-Vii is also able to link with surrounding vehicles and infrastructure, allowing it to detect potential hazards in advance, or to connect with friends driving nearby.
The Fun-Vii and other concept cars will be displayed by Toyota at the Tokyo Motor Show from 1 December, 2011
Toyota Fun-Vii Main Specifications
| Length | 4,020 mm |
| Width | 1,745 mm |
| Height | 1,415 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,750 mm |
| Seating | 3 |
1 Vehicle, interactive, internet
2 Press days: November 30 and December 1; special guest day: 2; public days: 3-11
3 Revival of Toyota-brand catchphrase “Fun to Drive”, used in domestic Japanese advertisements from 1984 to 1987
