Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/28/toyota_fun_vii_concept_car/
Toyota unveils 'smartphone on four wheels'
Concept car silliness at Tokyo Motor Show
Posted in Science, 28th November 2011 23:54 GMT
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Toyota has introduced a concept car with touchscreen doors, digitally customizable exterior and interior, collision-avoidance tech, car-to-car networking, and more – and for reasons known only to the marketing mind, they call it the Fun-Vii.
"We thought it would be fun to put a smartphone on four wheels," said Toyota president Akio Toyoda when rolling out the car ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show [1], to be held at the Tokyo Big Sight [2] exhibition center. "This idea led to the birth of the Fun-Vii."
The Toyota Fun-Vii, coming soon to a future near you (click to enlarge) [3]
In a press release accompanying the rollout, Toyota (not Toyoda) said the Fun-Vii "heralds a not-too-distant future where people, cars and society are linked."
Although the Toyota says that "the whole vehicle body can be used as a display space, with the body color and display content changeable at will," at the rollout only the Fun-Vii's doors were active with changing displays:
In addition to the exterior, Toyota says, the Fun-Vii's interior appearance can also be customized. Why? "To match the mood of the moment."
And what exactly would be the mood of this moment? (click to enlarge) [4]
The three-passenger vehicle would come provide augmented-reality information on its windshield – or windscreen, should you appen to prefer right-hand drive – along with a "concierge" that – who? – would provide spoken navigation info and other driving guidance.
In the promo images supplied by Toyota, however, the concierge appears as not merely a spoken interface, but as a Princess Leia hologram popping out of R2D2's domed noggin – only with a supposedly futuristic chapeau, not the familiar cinnamon-bun hairdo.
'Help me, Obi-Wan Toyoda. You're my only hope!' (click to enlarge) [5]
The Fun-Vii's internal software could be updated remotely, its wireless network could be used to communicate with "friends who are driving nearby", and select functions could be accessed by smartphone – presumably not driving functions, should some of those aforementioned friends be feeling mischievous. ®