[car fanatics]

Quote:magine 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.

[TOYOTA]
[PHOTO CREDIT: TOYOTA]