Toyota concept is rolling toy chest that drives itself
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TOKYO -- The Toyota brand has a new slogan in Japan: "Fun to drive, again."
And Toyota has a new concept to showcase that slogan: a car that can run on autopilot while occupants play with their smartphones.
While that may seem like a slogan/car disconnect, Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda insists the slogan represents his own philosophy. According to Toyoda, "If it's not fun, it's not a car."
He unveiled the concept car, which he personally dubbed the Fun-Vii.
The entire outer skin of the black, wedge-shaped concept is a video display screen. The car is designed to be driven by autopilot, through a highway infrastructure yet to be developed. That will allow the driver to take his eyes off the road and focus on what to display on the car's exterior: anything from stock quotes and advertising to pictures downloaded from a mobile phone.
The car, says Toyoda, portends a future of interconnected vehicles that can be customized as easily as cell phones: "It's like a smartphone on wheels."
He said the three-seat Fun-Vii adds interconnectivity to driving experience.
The concept has a 3D hologram avatar that helps with such things as traffic directions and en route shopping. Linking with a smart grid outside the car can help drivers avoid road hazards and keep them continuously connected with friends in other vehicles or at home.
You can reach Hans Greimel at hgreimel@crain.com. -- Follow Hans on 
