Tag Archives: Toyota

Toyota IMV Origin rethinks modular truck design with a vehicle that arrives unfinished

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The Toyota IMV Origin arrived at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show stripped down to almost nothing, and that was entirely intentional. Where conventional vehicle concepts arrive polished and production ready, the IMV Origin presented itself as a skeletal flatbed with an open air single seat cab, barely recognizable as a truck at all. Toyota’s approach here inverts the typical automaker logic: instead of delivering a finished product, the company ships a foundation, a canvas, a system of parts that local communities complete on their own terms. The concept draws from Toyota’s long running Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle platform, which already emphasizes flexibility and regional adaptation. Revealed during the same press conference that showcased flashier vehicles and premium brand expansions, the IMV Origin quietly proposed something more radical: a vehicle that gains value and identity only after it leaves the factory.

Designer: Toyota

Koji Sato, Toyota’s president and CEO, described the underlying philosophy in direct terms during the Japan Mobility Show presentation. The first idea, he explained, was to ship the vehicle unfinished, allowing the local people who receive it to assemble and complete it themselves. The second idea extended that premise further: customers would define the vehicle on their own terms even after assembly, choosing whether it carries people or cargo, boxes or something else entirely. Toyota builds the base, and from there each user completes the vehicle to fit specific needs. This framing positions the IMV Origin not as a truck but as a design system, a physical framework for distributed creativity that shifts final authorship away from the factory floor and into the hands of communities scattered across emerging markets.

Designing a Vehicle That Arrives Unfinished

That philosophy becomes visible in the physical form itself. The Toyota IMV Origin reads less like a finished vehicle and more like a piece of industrial furniture waiting for context. A flat chassis defines the primary surface, interrupted only by a minimal open cab structure designed for a single occupant. There is no enclosed cabin, no rear bed walls, no cargo box, no secondary seating. The silhouette suggests a factory cart or a stripped down work platform rather than anything destined for public roads. This visual starkness serves a functional purpose: every absent panel, every missing enclosure represents space for local fabrication and adaptation.

Toyota’s shipping model borrows imagery from flat pack furniture, a comparison Sato made explicit during the Japan Mobility Show press conference. The idea is that the IMV Origin ships as a crate of assemble yourself components, packed efficiently enough to slide into a standard shipping container. Buyers receive the rolling chassis, the cab frame, the essential mechanical systems, and presumably a set of instructions and basic tools. Assembly happens on arrival, requiring some combination of included hardware and locally sourced equipment. The furniture analogy carries weight here: just as a bookshelf arrives as panels and fasteners awaiting configuration, the IMV Origin arrives as a vehicle skeleton awaiting completion. This approach compresses shipping volume, reduces transport costs, and distributes final assembly labor to regions where that labor already exists and seeks work.

The open cab structure reveals how Toyota communicates modularity through form. By leaving the driver’s area exposed rather than enclosed, the company signals that even this fundamental zone remains open to interpretation. A buyer might add a windscreen, side panels, a full roof, or leave the cab skeletal for maximum airflow in hot climates. The single seat default suggests solo commercial use, but the surrounding space invites expansion to two seats or more. Every surface of the IMV Origin exists as a potential attachment point, a mounting location, a starting place for fabrication. The form does not dictate function; it invites negotiation.

The visual openness of the chassis functions almost like an instruction diagram for local builders. Exposed rails, visible mounting surfaces, and unobstructed structural geometry signal exactly where modules can attach. A fabricator examining the modular truck concept does not need a manual to understand where a cargo box might bolt or where a cab enclosure could fasten. The stripped form communicates its own logic, revealing load paths and connection points through the simple act of leaving them visible. Toyota’s decision to ship the vehicle unfinished becomes, in this light, a form of design communication: the geometry itself teaches the user how to complete it.

How Local Assembly Shapes Everyday Use

The design logic extends directly into how people actually use the vehicle. The user experience of the Toyota IMV Origin begins not with driving but with building. A farmer in rural Africa might receive the crated components, unpack them with neighbors, and spend a day or a week assembling the base vehicle. The process itself becomes a form of ownership, a hands on introduction to every mechanical connection and structural joint. By the time the owner starts the engine for the first time, they already understand how the vehicle fits together, which fasteners hold the cab frame, where the chassis accepts additional load. This knowledge carries forward into repair and modification, lowering the barrier to maintenance and customization.

Toyota showed several example configurations at the Japan Mobility Show press conference, including a produce delivery truck with a tall cargo box and a logging truck with open stake sides. These illustrations suggest the range of possibilities without defining limits. A community workshop in a small agricultural town might fabricate a cargo bed with fold down sides, bolted directly to the exposed chassis rails, for transporting harvested crops over uneven dirt roads. Another shop could build a modular fire response carrier, using the visible mounting surfaces to secure water tanks and equipment racks for rapid deployment across scattered villages. A regional upfitter with welding equipment might create a lightweight camper module, fastening a sleeping platform and basic storage to the flatbed’s open connection points, transforming the IMV Origin into a mobile shelter for seasonal workers or traveling repair crews. Each scenario draws on locally available materials, locally developed skills, and locally understood needs.

The modularity extends beyond the initial build, allowing role changes across seasons without requiring a new vehicle purchase. A single IMV Origin might serve as a produce hauler during harvest season, then swap its cargo box for a flatbed configuration to transport building materials during construction months, then add a canopy and seating for passenger transport during community events. This flexibility mirrors the way rural economies actually function, where a single asset often serves multiple purposes across different seasons and circumstances. The design anticipates that reality rather than ignoring it.

Sustainability Through Local Fabrication and Modular Updates

These same structural choices carry environmental consequences that compound over time. Shipping a compact crate of components rather than a fully assembled vehicle reduces the volumetric footprint of each unit in transit. Fewer shipping containers, smaller cargo holds, and more efficient packing translate directly into lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions during international transport. The sustainability benefit begins before the vehicle ever reaches its destination, embedded in the logistics strategy rather than added as an afterthought.

Local assembly creates additional environmental value by distributing expertise and reducing dependence on distant supply chains. When communities build and maintain their own vehicles, they develop skills that support long term durability. A locally fabricated cargo box can be repaired with locally sourced materials when it sustains damage. A cab enclosure built by a regional shop can be modified or replaced without importing new parts from distant factories. In regions where replacement parts are expensive or difficult to obtain, this local capability becomes a practical necessity as much as an environmental virtue.

The IMV Origin’s intentional incompleteness encourages a culture of repair over replacement, extending the useful life of the base platform and reducing the frequency of full vehicle turnover. Rather than discarding an entire vehicle when needs change, owners upgrade or swap individual components. A farmer who expands operations might add a second seat to the cab rather than purchasing a larger truck. A delivery service that shifts from dry goods to refrigerated cargo might install an insulated box module rather than acquiring a purpose built refrigerated vehicle. Each modular intervention preserves the embedded energy and material value of the existing platform while adapting it to new requirements.

Durability emerges not from overengineering but from accessibility: the vehicle lasts longer because owners can fix it, adapt it, and extend its usefulness without specialized tools or imported components. Toyota’s willingness to leave the product unfinished becomes, paradoxically, a strategy for longevity.

Where the IMV Origin Fits in Toyota’s Modular Platform Roadmap

This approach did not emerge in isolation. The Toyota IMV Origin sits at the most stripped down end of a spectrum that already includes the IMV 0 concept and the production Hilux Champ. The IMV 0, revealed in 2022, offered a simplified small truck platform with strong modularity but still arrived as a recognizable vehicle. The Hilux Champ, which debuted in Thailand in 2023, translated that modularity into a production reality, spawning mini motorhomes, delivery trucks, food trucks, and overland campers through partnerships with regional body shops. Indonesia’s version, the Hilux Rangga, inspired a design competition that produced fire trucks, police tactical vehicles, agricultural transporters, and recreational campers. The IMV Origin steps further back along this trajectory, offering even less finished hardware and even more open ended potential.

This positioning reveals something about Toyota’s strategy for global mobility within the broader IMV platform family. Rather than designing a single truck and adapting it for different markets through factory options, the company designs a platform that markets adapt themselves. The factory provides the mechanical core, the structural integrity, the safety critical systems. Everything else becomes a canvas for regional creativity. This approach acknowledges that Toyota cannot anticipate every use case, cannot understand every local need, cannot predict how a vehicle will serve a community it has never visited. By stepping back from finished product design, the company creates space for distributed innovation.

The IMV Origin also signals a willingness to rethink what a vehicle manufacturer actually provides. Traditional automakers sell cars and trucks. Toyota, through this concept, proposes selling capability frameworks: mechanical systems and structural platforms that enable local economies to generate their own transportation solutions. The value proposition shifts from finished goods to enabling infrastructure. Whether this model scales into production remains to be seen, but the conceptual territory it explores challenges assumptions about how vehicles reach the people who need them.

Why the IMV Origin Acts as a Platform Rather Than a Product

What emerges from these choices is a rare form of restraint. By shipping a deliberately incomplete vehicle, Toyota acknowledges that the factory cannot know best, that distant engineers cannot anticipate the specific needs of a farming community in rural Africa or a delivery network in Southeast Asia. The concept trusts local fabricators to complete the design, trusts regional workshops to maintain and modify the platform, trusts communities to define what a truck should be in their specific context. This trust becomes a design decision as much as any chassis dimension or cab geometry.

The furniture shipping model, the open cab structure, the flatbed awaiting cargo solutions: all of these choices point toward a vehicle that exists as potential rather than product. As Koji Sato noted during the presentation, not finishing this vehicle was frustrating from a carmaker’s perspective, but not finishing it is what makes it a vehicle built for actual users, because people have different needs in their daily life and work. The IMV Origin does not try to be everything. It tries to be a starting point, a foundation, a system that gains identity through use and modification. Toyota builds the base. The world completes the truck.

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Toyota Walk Me: The Robot Chair That Climbs Stairs and Folds Into Your Trunk

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Stairs have long been the nemesis of wheelchair users, turning simple errands into logistical nightmares and limiting access to countless spaces. Toyota’s answer to this mobility challenge doesn’t roll on wheels at all. Instead, the Walk Me concept, unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, walks on four robotic legs that can climb stairs, navigate uneven terrain, and fold themselves into carry-on luggage when not in use.

Designer: Toyota

A New Kind of Movement

Walk Me replaces traditional wheelchair wheels with biomimetic robotic limbs inspired by goats and crabs, animals known for their sure-footed navigation of challenging terrain. Each of the four independently motorized legs is covered in soft, pastel-colored material that hides the hardware and sensors underneath, making the technology feel approachable rather than clinical. When Walk Me encounters stairs, the front legs test the step height before pulling the chair upward while the rear legs generate thrust and support, creating a smooth climbing sequence that maintains user stability throughout the ascent.

LiDAR sensors and cameras continuously scan surroundings, allowing the chair to navigate obstacles like rug edges, scattered toys, and threshold transitions between rooms. Weight sensors ensure the user remains centered before any major movement, while collision radars stop the chair immediately if something crosses its path. Even when balance shifts unexpectedly, the system automatically widens its stance and adjusts the seat position to prevent tipping.

Comfort, Control, and Autonomy

Walk Me’s seat is designed to adjust to the user’s shape. The curved backrest supports the spine, while small side handles allow for manual steering. Users can twist the handles to turn or press integrated buttons for direction control.

For hands-free operation, voice commands like “kitchen” or “faster” enable the onboard computer to map a path or adjust stride speed. A small display on the armrest shows battery level and distance traveled, keeping essential information at a glance. The system uses smart algorithms and balance control to ensure smooth movement across complex surfaces.

The entire chair operates on a compact battery hidden behind the seat, which provides enough power for a full day of activity. Charging is as simple as plugging it into a wall outlet overnight. Built-in sensors monitor every joint, and if overheating occurs, the chair automatically shuts down and notifies the user.

Compact Design for Daily Life

Perhaps Walk Me’s most striking capability is its folding mechanism. With a single button press, the legs retract telescopically, the knees bend, and the chair compacts itself into carry-on size within thirty seconds. This makes it convenient to store in a car trunk or beside furniture, and when reactivated, the legs extend again while the balance system recalibrates automatically.

The chair’s adaptability extends to vehicle transfers and traditional Japanese living spaces. Walk Me can lift users into vehicles by raising itself on tiptoes, aligning with car doors, and tilting forward to facilitate seamless transfers without assistance or transfer boards. On tatami mats, the legs squat down to lower the seat to mat level, accommodating the floor-sitting culture common in Japanese homes.

Toyota designed Walk Me for practical, real-world use, from Japan’s elevated homes and narrow hallways to outdoor garden paths. The concept addresses the everyday challenges faced by people with reduced mobility, whether climbing stairs, moving over uneven ground, or transitioning into vehicles. By merging robotics, AI, and human-centered design with biomimicry principles, Walk Me represents an approach to assistive technology that prioritizes independence across diverse environments.

Beyond Prototype Status

Walk Me remains a prototype with no announced production timeline. Yet its debut at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 suggests a future where assistive devices are not limited by terrain, architecture, or even wheels. By replacing traditional mobility solutions with intelligent, lifelike motion, Toyota’s Walk Me challenges existing designs fundamentally and offers not just movement, but freedom.

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Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander wins hearts by running on hydrogen and making its own water

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An ultimate overlanding rig has its own perks: goes anywhere, even where roads disappear; lets you camp under the starriest skies; and provides the comfort of a home on wheels. However, when it comes to the environment, overlanding vehicles are major gas guzzlers, leaving behind emissions that pollute even the cleanest of places. To address this, Toyota has taken a step in the right direction: it has prepared the Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander concept, which is winning hearts not for its looks, but for its ability to breathe hydrogen and exhale water.

The concept vehicle is a badass overlanding rig with 547 horsepower that’s set to take you distances with its hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric powertrain, which leaves only water as tailpipe emissions. It’s perhaps this hydrogen fuel-cell technology that earns the concept its H2 moniker, with which it is going to debut at the SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention Center between November 4 and 7.

Designer: Toyota

Tacoma H2-Overlander is a result of the technical expertise of Toyota Motor North America R&D (TMNA R&D), and is built by the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) engineering teams in California and North Carolina. The concept, based on the mid-size Tacoma pickup platform, is engineered especially for the SEMA show to showcase the viable potential of hydrogen fuel cells and their possible use case in an extreme adventure vehicle.

Toyota’s latest hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system replaces the internal‐combustion engine or traditional battery-electric drivetrain in the Tacoma H2-Overlander that runs on compressed liquid hydrogen to power the 24.9 kWh lithium-ion battery and its 547-horsepower dual electric motor. The resultant output of the exhaust is pure water, and unlike the traditional battery, the liquid hydrogen tank takes far less time to refill. It can, Toyota affirms, be refilled in minutes like the conventional gas tanks.

Like you’d imagine, Toyota isn’t calling the Tacoma H2 an overlanding rig, just for the sake of it. It actually is designed with its own rooftop pop-up tent made from lightweight carbon fiber panels. The details about the configuration of the rooftop tent are scanty at the moment, but we learn that it has a bed, a mini fridge, and a gas grill, running on the same hydrogen powering the vehicle itself. The ride flaunts a splendid lightbar and a heavy-duty winch. But what’s really interesting about the concept Overlander is that it is an exhaust water recovery system. This essentially collects the water vapors released by the tailpipe (produced by hydrogen fuel cell combustion), and then fills it to be used by the occupants at camp.

The Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander is provided with custom 17-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch all-terrain tires. The rig offers up to 300 miles of range on a full hydrogen tank, which can be refilled in under five minutes. According to the press information, the overlander comes with two NEMA 14-50 outlets on the bedside, which can be used to recharge up to two EVs simultaneously or even power a home with up to 15 kilowatts of output.

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Toyota unveils Kayoibako-K micro camper van concept that can be used as self-driving mobile storefront

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Daihatsu recently took to the Japan Mobility Show to showcase some of the fascinating vehicles it’s building in the small segment. Personally speaking, small cars are incredibly difficult to pull off with all the features and functionalities, let alone the idea of stuffing them with features to fit the camper segment. But that’s what Daihatsu continues to take up as a challenge for itself, which is evident in the showcase of the Toyota Daihatsu Kayoibako-K concept.

The adorable micro-transporter is showcased in various possible variants, including a camper van, a small family hauler, and as a self-driving adventurer and mobile delivery van. While the concept vehicle is not fully autonomous, the Kayoibako-K concept has been depicted in promotional videos as navigating itself to the driver’s doorsteps, driving autonomously on specific routes, or returning autonomously to its parking spot after a long day of work.

Designer: Daihatsu

Even though, for those who have been following Toyota’s vision of the micro-van, there wouldn’t be much to distinguish between the Kayoibako-K and the original Kayoibako concept the company showcased at the Japan Mobility Show, two years back in 2023, but the adorable micro-camper is skimmed down in size further to be more adaptable to city roads. Kayoibako is a name Toyota has picked from the name deriving from shipping containers in Japanese, which rely on modular interiors to haul different types of cargo. On similar lines, the Kayoibako-K is a compact concept van and mini-camper, is basically a single vehicle (a platform) that features interchangeable interiors for versatility and enhanced scope of use.

According to the press information received, Kayoibako-K van measures almost 3,395mm, 1,475 mm wide, and 1,475 mm high. It can accommodate 4 people, and is designed to pull off everything from last-mile deliveries in local communities to camping beyond the cityscapes, in of course what is the smallest mini vehicle form factor ever in the mini vehicle-sized commercial vehicles. In the camper version, this little vehicle puts on a roof tent accessible by a ladder, and off-road tires for traveling some unpaved roads on the way to the campsite.

Even though camping has its versatile functionality, the Kayoibako-K is primarily conceptualized with a large rear cabin for delivering packages. The van can work as a mobile storefront, used to carry tools, and even be used, if you may, as a cab to transport elderly passengers in an urban road setting. However, it’s the camper van feature of the Kayoibako-K that impresses me. The van is shown to feature a two-person rooftop tent, and can also be used to haul your gear, including a kayak, to the beach. There is no word on when or if the concept micro camper van will hit the market, but if and when it does, it will definitely slay the onlooker with its graphic detailing and blinky-like headlamps.

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Toyota Announces World’s First Self-Driving EV For Children

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Would you trust AI to drive your child across town without you? Toyota is betting some parents will. At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the automotive giant introduced Mobi, a fully autonomous electric bubble car that transports children on their own, with no adult supervision required. The pint-sized vehicle relies entirely on AI for navigation and safety, marking a radical departure from traditional ideas about child transportation.

This is the kind of concept that makes you simultaneously excited about the future and somewhat uncomfortable about it. The Mobi sits on display at the show between October 30th and November 9th, looking like someone crossbred a Pixar character with actual transportation infrastructure. And honestly, that seems intentional. Toyota positioned this as part of their “Mobility for All” project, which sounds noble until you realize they’re proposing to put elementary schoolers in autonomous pods and send them off into traffic.

Designer: Toyota

The design language here is fascinating because it has to do something incredibly difficult: make a vehicle feel safe enough for parents to trust while simultaneously feeling fun enough that kids actually want to use it. That bubble canopy swings upward like a gullwing door, revealing a single seat covered in fuzzy material that looks lifted straight from a particularly cozy bean bag chair. The exterior comes in aggressively cheerful colorways, lime green with black accents or blue-purple with orange trim, both loud enough to make sure nobody’s running this thing over in a parking lot. And then there are the LED eyes at the front, two circular lights that blink and animate to give the vehicle an almost sentient personality. It’s cute bordering on manipulative, which is probably exactly the emotional response Toyota wants from both kids and their hesitant parents. Up top, two ‘ears’ serve as the car’s advanced sensor array, allowing the EV to be spatially aware as it transports its tiny passenger around.

The AI system does all the heavy lifting here. Direction, speed, traffic navigation, obstacle detection, it’s all handled by the onboard intelligence while the kid just sits there like a particularly small passenger on the world’s shortest Uber ride. Toyota has equipped the Mobi with an AI assistant called UX Friend, which is either a stroke of genius or the beginning of a Black Mirror episode depending on your tolerance for letting algorithms raise your children. This virtual companion talks to kids throughout the journey, gives them instructions on how to “drive” the autonomous pod (which is really just letting them feel involved), and presumably keeps them entertained so they don’t try to open the door mid-trip. The system uses sensors and cameras positioned around the vehicle to detect motion and obstacles, creating a protective bubble of awareness that theoretically keeps the child safe from the chaos of real-world traffic.

The specs are still murky because Toyota hasn’t released the full technical breakdown yet. What we know is the outer shell likely uses lightweight plastic or composite materials to keep the weight down and the safety up. The vehicle is almost comically small, with a footprint that makes a Smart car look like an SUV. Single occupancy only, which makes sense given the target demographic isn’t carpooling to corporate meetings. The interior is deliberately spacious enough for a child to sit comfortably without feeling claustrophobic, and that textured seat material isn’t just aesthetic, it’s tactical design meant to make the space feel less like a vehicle and more like a safe cocoon. Toyota knows that if kids associate this thing with discomfort or fear, the whole concept dies on arrival.

Here’s where it gets interesting though. This isn’t a production vehicle, it’s a concept with a working prototype, and Toyota has been notably silent about when or if they plan to conduct real-world road tests with actual children inside. That’s a massive gap between “look at this cool thing we built” and “you can actually use this to send your kid to soccer practice.” The regulatory hurdles alone are staggering. What jurisdiction is going to greenlight unsupervised minors in autonomous vehicles? What happens when the AI encounters an edge case it wasn’t trained for? Who’s liable when something inevitably goes wrong? Toyota is playing in a sandbox that doesn’t have rules yet, and while that’s exciting from an innovation standpoint, it’s also deeply complicated from a practical one. The Mobi might be a genuine glimpse at future mobility, or it might be an elaborate design exercise that never leaves the auto show circuit. Only time will tell…

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Toyota celebrates NFL partnership with the Ultimate Tailgate Tundra featuring satellite internet

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SEMA Show in Las Vegas concluded with much fanfare this past weekend. The humungous gathering of automotive enthusiasts and aftermarket professionals was taken aback when Toyota unwrapped the Ultimate Tailgate Tundra. Part of Toyota’s exciting vehicles in Vegas, the Tundra is way beyond anything we have seen in the past: It’s an inspiring new vehicle designed as an audio-visual powerhouse for sports fans and adventurers.

Designed per se for tailgating parties that are nothing without a game of football; the Tundra is a tribute to the Japanese automaker’s partnership with the National Football League. As an official partner, Toyota has done great deals with NFL, now by offering this tailgating extravaganza, the company is giving fans a reason to uplift their fandom.

Designer: Toyota

If you’re an NFL fan, you know the significance of those pre-game gatherings – booze, large screen displays, and aggressive conversations – I feel chills running down my spine even as I write. The atmosphere is electrifying and unescapable, but some of us want that secluded space with a bunch of friends in the parking lot or out in the wilderness. That’s what the Tundra with tailgating entertainment system intends to target.

By offering the ultimate rig for the outdoors, Toyota is ensuring a fan never misses a game no matter how distant he is from the pitch or the confines of his home. Ultimate Tailgate Tundra is a pickup truck that would transport small tailgating get-togethers into a theatre-esque live game showdowns. On the staging shell powered by four electric actuators – rising up from the truck bed at the push of a button – are five 55-inch weatherproof outdoor screens that combine to give you the ultimate audio-visual experience on the move.

Tyler Litchenberger, Toyota Vehicle Marketing and Communication manager informs, “This build is more of an audio-visual experience than a typical tailgate setup. We wanted to create something that not only draws attention to the truck, but is also an activation that invites people to experience the Toyota Tundra as the ultimate sporting and adventure machine.”

The five screens that work in tandem and are viewable from almost 180-degree angles are provided with exceptional audio combinations. The JBL Club Marine Series tower speakers draw power from the Club Marine A5055 amplifier and a Marine 600 amplifier drives two 10-inch subwoofers. The experience would be worthless without a generator powering the entire setup that runs on satellite-based Wi-Fi connectivity onboard.

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Modellista brings insane overlanding capabilities to Land Cruiser 2025 that’s dressed to impress

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At SEMA 2024 the newly launched Toyota Land Cruiser 2025 model saw a chunky makeover thanks to the in-house bred Japanese aftermarket company Modellista, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. The Overland Vision Concept is one of the prototypes shown off by Toyota at the automotive mecca.

The vehicle is modded to bring extreme overlanding capability to the otherwise benign Land Cruiser. According to Modellista their core vision behind this design is to explore the potential of the brand in the U.S. If they intend on achieving what they’ve set their eyes on, the ultra-rugged Land Cruiser model will be a reality in the future pitted against the futuristic Cybertruck.

Designer: Modellista

This concept is a heavily armored vehicle that made heads turn at the SEMA show for its Cyberpunk look and bold character. It comes with an array of inclusions like aggressive off-road tires, lower body panels, fender flares, skid plates, a lift kit, headlight protection, side-carrying containers, a roof-mounted tent and a centrally mounted ladder. The aftermarket specialist made judicious use of amber green LED lights and a full-width light bar above the grille. These green LED accents extend to the whole front fascia and rear section to lend the ride an intimidating persona.

Overland Vision Concept has brush wires all around to protect against dents and scratches from exposure to the tough off-roading adventures, a dystopian future, or an apocalyptic warzone. Modellista has given the grille a good treatment of the TOYOTA logo with the Land Cruser branding below the bumper. The vehicle carries a two-tone theme in black and silver spilling over to the dark black tinted windows which make it a good candidate for a VVIP entourage.

It’ll be exciting to see how American adventure lovers see this lucrative Overlander pitted against the likes of the Ford F150 Raptor, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Gladiator, or Toyota Tacoma!

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Toyota’s new Micro-camper doubles into a cargo-van, pop-up shop, or even a wheelchair-accessible van

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As the name suggests, most camper vans are made for camping. However, Toyoya’s Kayoibako interprets things differently. Inspired instead by shipping containers, the adorable micro-camper is compact enough for tight city streets yet versatile enough to transform from a cozy camper into a mobile pop-up shop or even a mini delivery van. Built as a multifunctional, adaptable space, the Kayoibako explores the future of compact vehicles designed for urban explorers, small business owners, and anyone craving flexibility in a city-ready package.

Designer: Toyota

With a length of 3.99 meters (around 13 feet), the Kayoibako maximizes every inch of space. The tiny EV uses a nearly nonexistent hood and a minimalist driver-only seat setup, which frees up over 2.1 meters of usable floor length behind the driver and 3.1 meters in the seatless passenger area. Collaborating with lifestyle brand D&Department, Toyota created a cozy camper layout with a foldable double bed, ambient lighting, and simple furnishings, proving that functional design can be stylish too. The roof—standing at 186 cm (73 inches)—is accessible via a ladder and can double as a gear rack, providing easy storage solutions for adventurers looking to take advantage of every inch of this micro-camper.

What really makes the Kayoibako concept exciting is how easily it shapeshifts to meet diverse needs. Toyota envisioned it for multiple configurations, including an adaptive wheelchair-accessible design, a fully mobile retail shop with racks, and a straightforward cargo hauler. This flexibility comes from the vehicle’s customizable software. For instance, if you’re using it as a mobile shop, the Kayoibako could integrate inventory tracking, or, if it’s out on the trails, off-road navigation could be added to the suite. With all these options, Toyota has crafted a concept that feels a step ahead, blending physical versatility with digital intelligence.

Inside, the Kayoibako is as simple as it is modern. The minimalist dashboard is defined by an ultra-slim, curved infotainment screen that stretches across the windshield area, designed to give the driver a seamless interface with all key information in one place. The Kayoibako’s cockpit keeps things light, thanks to a skeletal steering wheel and minimal controls, perfect for a vehicle that aims to be as flexible as its users’ needs. This simplicity lets Toyota make the most of the interior, creating a spacious, uncluttered atmosphere that’s highly adaptable for different uses, from outdoor exploration to city delivery.

So, will the Kayoibako make it to production? Toyota’s been quiet about that, though its experimentation with flexible mini-vehicles, like the Hilux Champ mini-pickup, hints at a future where modular electric vehicles might become mainstream. If the Kayoibako—or something like it—hits the market, we’d be looking at a new category of hyper-adaptable, eco-friendly EVs. Whether for work, play, or a mix of both, it’s a concept that could be just what the tiny van scene has been waiting for.

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2024 Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition Review : A True Adventure Upgrade or Just a Facelift

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PROS:


  • Green and bronze looks great

  • Subtly improved off-road capability

  • Typical RAV4 utility

CONS:


  • Reduced fuel economy

  • Worse on-road manners

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Woodland Edition adds a strong dose of rugged style and a bit of extra capability, but the return may not be worth the efficiency and financial cost.

The auto market is being flooded with semi-rugged, lightly off-road editions of everyday SUVs, and Toyota’s getting in on the game with this. It’s the RAV4 Woodland Edition, a version of its ubiquitous and perpetually popular SUV that looks a little more ready for adventure than its lesser versions.

But is it actually a functional upgrade, and is it worth the roughly $3,000 over a base RAV4 Hybrid LE? That’s what I aimed to find out in my week with this green and gold hybrid.

Design

Before we even get into the functional upgrades on the Woodland Edition, I’m tempted to say this flavor of Toyota’s RAV4 SUV is worth the extra cost for the color scheme alone. That color, which Toyota calls Army Green, works remarkably well on this car. It’s not quite a military olive drab in that it definitely has a glossy hue to it, but it’s certainly in the same chromatic family.

Pairing that with a set of satin bronze wheels is an act of genius, resulting in an SUV with far more presence than any of the dozen other RAV4s you’ll likely find in the average parking lot. This is the best color combination available in Toyota’s crossover at the moment, and you can only get it in the Woodland edition.

That said, even the base RAV4 is not a bad-looking machine. Though its facelift is getting a bit familiar at this point, its angular styling cues and the dramatic, downward sweep of the lines running from the rear fenders all the way to the front grille give it an active stance that works perfectly with the attitude of the Woodland Edition.

Pick the Woodland, and you get the roof rack with rails standard, plus those 18-inch wheels and the all-terrain tires they’re covered in.

Things are less dramatic on the inside. Where that green and cold combo dominates your view as you approach, the only special touches on the inside are on the floor: a set of all-weather floor mats with Woodland Edition embossed on them, plus a few pine trees emblems. Those mats provide a functional upgrade for sure, but hardly a striking one visually.

The rest of the interior is standard stuff, thoughtfully laid out and featuring durable materials, but not much to look at. The RAV4 seats five maximum, with rear seats ample for two but only passable for three passengers. A separate heating vent plus a pair of USB-C ports are the only creature comforts available to those in the back.

The two front seats feature prodigious heating, toggled with chunky physical switches that stay in whatever position you left them last.So, if you’re the sort who wants a perpetually warm backside, you won’t have to reach for that button every time you start up this SUV. The steering wheel heating is less effective, but it too at least stays enabled between car starts.

Seat upholstery is of a basic fabric embossed with a geometric pattern that adds just a bit of visual appeal to an otherwise dark interior, though the light headliner helps. The dashboard, door cards, and center console are a mixture of leather-textured black vinyl and hard black plastics, with a few slashes and hints of matte silver plastic throughout.

Again, it’s not much to look at on the inside, but the numerous pockets and storage compartments leave ample opportunity for stashing stuff, while the cargo net out back in the hatch ensures that whatever you put in the 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space will stay put. The rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split, expanding that cargo volume to 69.8. 

Other than those seat heaters, tactile controls are limited to the HVAC system, which features some oversized, chunky knobs that are a pleasure to spin. There’s a smaller volume knob as well and a small knob for cycling between Eco and Sport modes, but that’s about it. 

Software and safety

Most interior controls are available through the eight-inch touchscreen running Toyota’s Drive Connect system, which offers integrated navigation and a voice assistant. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also available, which I found to be a far more appealing option. 

The gauge cluster features a series of traditional analog gauges with a digital, virtual gauge system in the center. This display is customizable to cycle through a series of vehicle settings, parameters, or navigation prompts if you like. There’s nothing particularly notable here, but it’s all perfectly functional.

In terms of active safety, the Woodland Edition features Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 system, which includes features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, roadside sign detection, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The adaptive cruise worked well, but the lane-keep assist was a little less reliable in my testing. It often struggled to detect road markings and only made very late, very indistinct corrections to keep the car centered.

On (and off) the road

The RAV4 is a simple, pleasant SUV to drive in most situations. The Woodland Edition doesn’t do much to change that formula, but it does add just a hint of additional capability. The suspension in this version has been retuned, slightly stiffer with up-rated bump stops, capable of handling the trails that Toyota apparently thinks people will be hitting in this thing.

Additionally, there’s a Trail drive mode, which Toyota says helps to maximize grip, but in my testing in slippery conditions, I couldn’t detect any difference. The front wheels always seemed to break loose first and most significantly before the rears got much in the way of power from the hybrid system out back.

The Woodland Edition’s biggest change, regardless, is what it rolls on. 18-inch Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires have been mounted on all four corners, far chunkier and more aggressive than the usual all-seasons found fitted on the RAV4.

Does any of it make a difference in terms of off-road performance? The suspension upgrade should make the Woodland Edition survive slightly harder stuff offroad, and there’s no doubt the tires will provide more grip on loose surfaces. 

On-road, the changes are definitely noticeable, with some increased road noise and a slight decrease in everyday ride quality. While far short of harsh, the Woodland Edition was less pleasant over the bumps and frost heaves that plague the roads near me as we come out of an extended winter season. Whether it’s the tires, suspension, or some combination of the two, I can’t say for sure, but if on-road poise and comfort is your priority, you might want to go for an XLE instead.

In terms of power, as in any other RAV4 hybrid, the 219 horsepower hybrid system in the Woodland Edition is more than adequate but far from breathtaking. The car accelerates cleanly and has plenty of power to keep up with traffic, plus reasonable throttle response, largely thanks to the hybrid system. However, when most people are shopping for Toyota Hybrids, their top priority is fuel economy, and I wasn’t blown away there. 

The Woodland Edition is rated for 38 mpg in the city, 35 on the highway, and 37 combined. In my mixed testing, I did substantially worse, coming in at 32.3 mpg. An XSE, meanwhile, is rated for 39 mpg combined. Those all-terrain tires here surely don’t help, nor does the roof rack up top.

Options and pricing

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 starts at $28,675 for a base LE edition. For a Woodland Edition, you’re looking at a minimum of $34,695. My model included the $925 Weather Package, which adds on heated seats and steering wheel, plus $500 for that exterior color, which brought the total price to $37,470 after a $1,350 destination charge. That compares favorably to its most direct competitor, a Subaru Forester Wilderness Edition, which starts at $34,920.  

Is it worth the extra $3,000 over a RAV4 LE hybrid? I don’t know if it is. While I appreciate the desire for something with more off-road capability and love the look and color scheme here, I can’t say that I’m convinced the on-road penalty combined with the extra cost is worthwhile. The mpg hit also doesn’t seem worthwhile unless you’re frequently going to be making use of those all-terrain tires or that roof rack.

In general, I’d recommend sticking with the RAV4 XLE hybrid, which is an excellent SUV and continues to be a value leader and saves. But, if you want something with a smidge more attitude and have a bit more to spend, I don’t blame you for being tempted by this green and bronze charmer.

The post 2024 Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition Review : A True Adventure Upgrade or Just a Facelift first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cute, sweater-wearing android can help carry heavier objects

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Whenever I write about robots, I cannot help but think about all the horror scenarios that I’ve seen in sci-fi movies and TV shows when they become our overlords after overthrowing abusive humans. But obviously, not all robots are scary in reality or at least we haven’t reached that point yet. There are also some cute and cuddly robots out there, both in pop culture and in real life. This new innovation from Toyota belongs to that latter category but it combines both hard and soft robotics.

Designer: Toyota

Punyo is the newest robot from Toyota but instead of looking like your typical robots that carry heavy things for us, it looks more like that adorable Baymax from Disney’s Big Hero 6. It’s even wearing a “sweater” that is actually functional as it actually enhances the robot’s capability to carry various things. Normally, robots just use their hands and their claw-like “fingers” but Punyo uses its chest, hips, arms – its entire body actually) to lift objects. This means it is able to carry heavier objects since it uses whole-body manipulation.

The arms of Punyo are made of air-filled bladders that can interact with different kinds of objects. Instead of the usual grippers we see on robots’ hands, there are high-friction latex bubbles as its “paws”. There are even internal cameras that are able to estimate the force that it needs to exert to carry whatever object it is holding. Inside the “sweater”, there are the usual robotic parts like rigid arms, a torso frame, and a waist actuator.

The name Punyo actually comes from the Japanese concept of “softness, cuteness, and resilience”. Combining the soft and hard robotics, as well as using teleoperation and artificial intelligence learning processes to train the android, gives us a holistic kind of robot that will not scare us but instead will be a helpful and friendly companion when it eventually becomes mass-produced. Hopefully, they will not be cute robot overlords.

The post Cute, sweater-wearing android can help carry heavier objects first appeared on Yanko Design.