Not so long ago, there were cell phones and there were cameras and there were MP3 devices. Today, it would seem crazy to need to carry around all three when you can walk into any cell phone store and buy a multi-tasking smart phone. Plus, in many new cars, your Bluetooth enabled smart phone will sync up with your entertainment system to keep you connected while you're on the road. So what's next? A smart-phone-car? Quite possibly.

It sounds a little far-fetched, but it's really not, considering all of the ways our technology and our vehicles mesh these days. There are apps that will remind you of your maintenance schedule, apps that will help you navigate your way through town, and many new cars will even read your text messages out loud to you so you don't need to take your hands off the wheel. And, Toyota's latest concept, or what they're calling the Fun-Vii is a "smartphone on four wheels."

The really neat thing about the Fun-Vii is that it's a completely customizable vehicle. Just like you can proclaim your love for certain brands and trends on Facebook and Twitter, you can download apps that will literally change the look of the car. The exterior can express the opinions of the driver, endorse products, or even blend in with its surroundings.

And on the inside, "Content such as navigation information is blended seamlessly into the interior through the use of augmented reality."¹ Augmented reality? Yup. This will take the shape of a navigation concierge, an avatar that pops out of the dash to provide guidance to the driver. Drivers can also alter the interior display to reflect their mood with varying lights, colors and patterns.

What about that name? Aside from being catchy, "Vii" stands for the three aspects that define the concept: Vehicle, interactive, internet. It's a take-off of a Toyota campaign from the early 1980s that featured the motto, "Fun to Drive." And this is a car that certainly does look like a fun interactive experience. As company President Akio Toyoda says, "A car must appeal to our emotions. If it's not fun, it's not a car."²

Still sounding a bit too far-fetched for you? Don't worry, Hanford Toyota Scion will continue to sell traditional models like the Toyota Corolla. You will, however, find a laundry list of fun and easy-to-use technologies in all of the new Toyota models here in our 1835 Glendale Ave Hanford, CA 93230 showroom.

Sources:¹http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/toyota-fun-vii-the-car-as-mobile-mood-ring/
²http://www.forbes.com/sites/mobiledia/2011/11/30/toyota-develops-touch-screen-car-doors/