The pioneering Toyota Prius holds the honor of being the best-selling hybrid vehicle of all time, and as such has pretty much become the poster child for green automobiles. Its low emissions and high fuel economy put it on a lot of car shoppers’ “maybe” lists, but there’s one thing that might cause some people to pass it up – its rather uninspiring appearance. To show just what a hip, happening car a Prius can be, the pimped-out Prius C&A Custom Concept vehicle is currently making its North American debut at the 2010 SEMA auto show in Las Vegas.
The C&A was put together by the Conversions and Accessories group at Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan “to demonstrate the unlimited potential for sports car modification on the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle.” There’s no doubt that some people in the Tuner crowd will like it, while others might liken it to those times when a normally-conservative TV starlet does a racy photo spread for a lads’ magazine – definitely eye-catching, but a little on the tacky side.
Here are its specs, in case you want to create your own!
EXTERIOR
- Carbon fiber hood, roof, back door, rear spoiler, aero side skirt with vertical spoiler, rear bumper with vertical spoiler front bumper, front fender flares, rear garinsh
INTERIOR
- Alcantara (simulated suede) steering wheel
- Aluminum shift knob with Alcantara suede
- Instrument panel gauge supplement includes “G” meter, output meter, mileage, water thermometer, and voltmeter
- Black interior with Alcantara suede trim on ceiling, “A” and “B” pillar, door trim, rear seat, and console box
- Driver and passenger RECARO seats with embroidered C&A logo
- DENSO navigation system with ECO display functions including motor, engine and total kilowatt output, steering angle (0 to +450 degrees), speed, accelerator open angle, mileage
SUSPENSION
- TEIN lowered sport suspension (four inches in front; six inches in rear)
Also on show at SEMA is Toyota’s Sienna Swagger Wagon Supreme, a stretched and super-customized Sienna minivan. The automaker teamed up with car customizer B.A.D. Company to “create a functional family vehicle that firmly dismisses the notion that to drive a minivan is to sacrifice personal style in favor of family functionality.”
It’s certainly... something. You can view its full specs here, but one feature in particular stands out – the seats have reversible cushions, with bright, kid-friendly upholstery on one side, and single-color leather on the other. In other words, it’s ideal both for soccer moms, or for “urban entrepreneurs.”
Normally, performance is equated with more powerful motors but this is incompatable with the original purpose of the Prius.