Toyota Opens its Toybox in Vegas
Tonka 4×4 leads the customisation concepts on show at SEMA show
The concept of the car as a big toy is being taken literally at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas, with a full-size Tonka Toy version of one of Toyota’s popular 4x4s.
The Tonka 4Runner is one of the stars of the annual Speciality Equipment Market Association event this week, the largest showcase of its kind in the world.
The Tonka 4Runner uses the same V6 engine as the road-going SUV, but that’s about the only component shared between the two. The show car sits high on a Bulletproof suspension lift kit, rides on 20-inch Colossus wheels with off-road tyres, has a battery of LED lamps and even has a pop-up tent on the roof.
Toyota has produced the concept model with the Funrise Toy Corporation, the company which makes the children’s toy models, following up an earlier project to build a fire engine.
Back to the Future Mirai
Although the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell saloon has only been on American roads for a few weeks, it has already undergone a transformation at the hands of customising specialists MV Designz. Inspired by the movie Back to the Future, this special version features modifications that echo the features of the time-travelling DeLorean that took Marty McFly and Doc Brown to 2015, including conversion to a two-door coupe body, gullwing doors and a “flux capacitor” in the centre console.
SEMA Edition TRD models
The show also puts Toyota’s most popular North American models in a new light, with a TRD performance makeover for the Camry, Corolla and Avalon saloons and the Land Cruiser and Highlander SUVs. The five SEMA Edition TRD vehicles have lowered suspension, aero body kits, tuned suspension and performance wheels, tyres and exhaust systems.
Sienna R-Tuned Concept
Even the Sienna MPV has been given a new direction, the family “swagger-wagon” turned into an R-Tuned Concept. A full performance kit has transformed performance, and even though it retains the road-going 3.5-litre V6 engine and transmission, this one-off Toyota outpaced a V8 Camaro around the Willow Springs test track.
Toyota Tundrasine Concept
SEMA marks the world debut for the Toyota Tundrasine Concept, which turns the Tundra pick-up into an eight-door stretch limousine. Measuring more than 26 feet long and with a wheelbase of almost 24 feet, it has a customised luxury interior based on the cabin of a luxury jet.
Other Toyota SEMA stars
Toyota is also showing cars from its North American motorsports programme, including the rally RAV4 and NASCAR Camry, at SEMA, together with its Ultimate Utility Vehicle, a monster machine based on a Tacoma pick-up with a Sienna MPV body.
Full details of all the Toyota exhibits at the SEMA show are available on the Toyota US media website at pressroom.toyota.com.
