Walk across any college campus or down the halls of any high school and what will you find? America's youth dialed in to iPhones, iPads, iPods and a variety of other information micro-portals. For a generation that has been fed on technology, staying connected is as essential as breathing. Tapping in to this digital hunger, Toyota has developed a concept that takes the term "smart car" to a whole new level.

Dubbed the Fun-Vii, the latest Toyota creation was released at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show earlier this month. While it was originally designed to capture the attention of a smartphone-obsessed youth, the unique model appeals to anyone who is constantly dialed in to technology. Unlike other vehicles that offer ways to connect computer to car, the Toyota Fun-Vii actually operates as a computer itself. Touch-screen door panels allow drivers to virtually interact with the world outside and communicate with other drivers on the road. Using apps that download straight to the vehicle, drivers can personalize the exterior with messages and images as well as change the color and lighting of the interior to fit their mood. Pre-personalization, the Toyota Fun-Vii is covered in slick-black screens and bears resemblance to a modern-day computer mouse.

Referring to the motivation behind vehicle development, Akio Toyoda, Toyota President, says, "A car must appeal to our emotions. If it's not fun, it's not a car."¹ Toyoda also notes that the Fun-Vii creation marks a heartfelt success for the company against a recent backdrop of devastating natural disasters.

The Japanese automaker's resilience and innovation are just two of the reasons we at Jimmy Vasser Toyota are so proud to wear the Toyota name. If you'd like to know more about the Fun-Vii or any other new Toyota models, feel free to contact us online or drop by 466 Soscol Ave Napa, CA 94559.

Source: ¹http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/toyota-fun-vii-the-car-as-mobile-mood-ring/