Team Toyota remembers a time when owning your first car as a teenager was a serious status symbol. As Kristin Nevels, of the American Automobile Association puts it, "It was a rite of passage and something to look forward to. You were only one of the cool kids if you drove and had your own vehicle."¹ These days, however, teenagers seem to be losing interest in cars, as new means of staying connected don't require them to be out on the road. Take for example, Facebook, Twiiter, or the introduction of the Smartphone. These services and devices are much easier to acquire than a set of wheels, and they allow for instant communication. So what can an automaker like Toyota do to boost interest? Quite a bit actually.

The Japanese automaker recently unveiled a new concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, and its aim is to recapture the vigorous energy that teens once exhibited for automobiles. Known as the Toyota Fun-Vii, the vheicle has been described as both a "digital mood ring"² and a "Smartphone on four wheels"³. How would Team Toyota describe it? Honestly, we're not sure if any words can do it justice!

For instance, the vehicle's exterior can be plastered with a digital wallpaper, just like many computer desktops and phones. And downloading these dynamic designs is as simple as downloading a picture or app from the internet. In other words, it's as simple as can be. Another aspect of the vehicle that can be customized to the user's liking is the interior lighting. Both its color and intensity can be adjusted to give the vehicle the type of mood that is desired.

When can we expect to see the Toyota Fun-Vii in production? In its exact form? Likely never. Team Toyota, located at 746 E. LINCOLN Hwy. in Langhorne, PA, wouldn't be surprised to see future iterations of popular models incorporate some of the concept's more distinguishing features. For now, we'll simply have to wait for more details from the Japanese automaker.

Sources:
-    ¹http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15847682
-    ^2,3http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/toyota-fun-vii-the-car-as-mobile-mood-ring/