Toyota Van Thing - Yes Toyota has gone nuts

[Joey D]

Toyota F3R Concept
Source: www.gminsidenews.com

Toyota says minivans have become boring and conventional, and aren't attracting younger buyers who are starting families. So it created a new people mover from the inside out. The result: The F3R concept, a large, square van with six doors and three rows of seats that can be reconfigured into a large couch. The F3R can seat up to eight passengers. The driver's seat swivels to face the back. The front passenger seat reclines. The center and right seats of the second row stow into the floor. The left seat in that row reclines to form the couch along the left side of the interior. Each side of the van has a pair of center-opening doors to create a wide opening to the second and third rows of seating. Two flat-panel monitors are mounted on tracks to be moved around the interior, and the instrument panel holds a detachable remote control. Toyota says the concept has a hybrid powertrain.

 

[kikie]

Wow.

Somehow, I like the design of this........thing. It's way better looking than the Ford F-250 Super Chief Concept, (I guess). White is just the right colo(u)r for this car thing.
It radiates power, muscle.

 

[Encyclopedia]

Oh my....

 

[Ev0]

Somewhere in the world, an xA and an xB had sex. This is the result. Yuck.

 

[Joey D]

Info posted

 

[NSX-R]

Oh My God! Here Comes Xb's Weight-challenged Cousin!

 

[194GVan]

Ill take one! lol I like the rear end but the front looks a little funny.

 

[Eric.]

Is anyone seeing a resemblance to the Renault Avantime?

"Somewhere in the world, an xA and an xB had sex. This is the result. Yuck."

 

[Duke]

This thing is 10x better looking than an Avantime. Avantimes look like they were purposely designed to look ungainly.

What does the current automotive industry have against glass?! Everything designed in the last 3 years looks like it's been chop-topped at the factory. In another few years we'll all be driving gun emplacements around.

 

[194GVan]

must be all those big SUV's running around, wouldnt you rather an SUV crash into your door than through your window?

 

[F1GTR]

Change the front, paint it black, and I'll take it.

 

[L8 Apex]

Looks okay to me, though the headlights, grille and badge arrangement on the schnoz reminds me of a giant bird with a tiny head.

 

[CDailey]

I like it. That rear is nice.

 

[a6m5]

I think it looks great as well. Grille is bit huge though. I agree with ITR on the rear. 👍

 

[niky]

This thing is 10x better looking than an Avantime. Avantimes look like they were purposely designed to look ungainly.

What does the current automotive industry have against glass?! Everything designed in the last 3 years looks like it's been chop-topped at the factory. In another few years we'll all be driving gun emplacements around.

People are already driving gun emplacements around. They're called Chrysler 300s.


I was prepared to come in here and bash the hell out of that thing, but I took a good long look at the pictures and came up blank.

That actually looks good.

 

[Emohawk]

Why has Toyota gone nuts? Its just the latest installment in their string of production vehicles desperatly trying to prove that they're youthfull and unboring. It's not proving anything to me, but this is the least-worst-of by some lengths.

 

[Joey D]

They are nuts because they attempted a bigger Scion xB in mini van form...who the hell takes a toaster, make in bigger, paint it iPod white, and makes it able to haul the kids to soccer...people who are nuts, that's who!

 

[Wolfe]

This isn't crazy at all. The Japanese love vans, especially big ones with neat doo-hickeys, gadgets, and colored lights. I'm dead serious.

What does the current automotive industry have against glass?! Everything designed in the last 3 years looks like it's been chop-topped at the factory. In another few years we'll all be driving gun emplacements around.

I agree completely. I love the visibility my "old-school" E30 provides.

 

[JohnBM01]

More like like the Scion xB's momma... Let's not make the commit the common mistake with concept cars of assuming they will be on the road anytime soon.

I do like the concept- a youth-oriented van for young families. I came up with a thread in the "Cars in General" forums asking what does it take to appeal to the youth market ( https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49749 ). I don't think people care if it isn't a Renault Espace F1 or a sports car embodied in a van. Does it have to be? Of course not. More trendy types care more about something cool to ride around town in. Remember, we're talking about something young types can enjoy. Doesn't mean that they have to be rear-wheel drive with a high-displacement V8. With the van concept itself, I dare say it's wort of like a minivan limo. With that white color for this concept, more like a marriage is about to take place. I will say that the rear of the concept van is perhaps the most appealing. If I'm thinking van and its front looks, I'm thinking of something elegant or lovely, even with a youth-oriented machine like this one. I'd probably think about the front of the latest Toyota Prius, or something like that. Get me into the machine by giving it a pretty face. Compliment the looks with something stylish, yet elegant. And from the rear, make it functional, but also pleasing to the eyes. By then, it will be a pretty nice looking lady.

As a small off-topic note, I don't like using "boring van." I'm not really an SUV guy, and I don't think they are only for soccer moms and all that. It may be to many people, but many vans can still be everything parents and families want them to be. Whatever Toyota plans to do to make something happen for the youth market, more power to Toyota. I just hope whatever they come up with can be appreciative among the youth market, not to mention... well... older types.

Again, good luck to Toyota wherever they plan to take this thing.

 

[TsLeng]

That van is cool.

I have always like those big vans like this:

 

[Cosmic]

It looks so gay...I hate concepts.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Where's the pics?