Getting in on the van conversion trend that's spawned everything from off-road drifters, to mobile offices, to nomadic parties, Toyota has presented the Extreme Sienna minivan at SEMA 2016. Like a private jet, the upgraded minivan is all aerodynamic tech outside and embellished comfort inside. The "Swagger Wagon" has more swagger than ever.
SEMA is the place for automakers to let their hair down and create completely impractical but awesome extreme builds with no need whatsoever to think about future viability. Toyota is making the most of it this year, as we saw with the 2,000-hp Land Speed Cruiser SUV and now see in the Extreme Sienna, an equally ridiculous but cool creation.
Working with Real Time Automotive Solutions hot rod builder Rick Leos, Toyota set out to bring the creature comforts of the private jet to the highway. It's not the first to do the whole "private jet in a van" thing, but it does take the idea an extra step by upgrading both the interior and exterior significantly.
Instead of the black car-service motif we expect from ultra-luxury vans, Toyota makes the Sienna as extreme outside as it is inside with a sports car-inspired look. Modifications include a wide body kit, adjustable air ride suspension, TRD brakes, performance wheels and tires, splitter, rear diffuser, spoiler and dual exhaust.
The Extreme Sienna exterior definitely looks like it's gunning for a racetrack, but the interior is a completely different story. Instead of the nitrous system or roll cage one might expect to find behind the doors, the Extreme Sienna has a luxurious cabin like no other minivan out there. The roof has been raised for added headroom, and a limousine-style partition wall is erected to separate the driver's cab from the rear cabin.
From the comfort of reclining massage captain's chairs, passengers enjoy in-flight entertainment on a home theater system with wall-mounted 30-in TV and JBL surround sound. Refreshments are provided by a built-in refrigerator and there's onboard Wi-Fi and a Bluetooth speaker for easy, direct music play. Systems, including the air ride suspension, are controlled via an iPad in the rear center console. We're not sure if the flooring is real wood or just imitation, but whatever it is, it pairs well with the upholstery to create a cool, clean look.
"This Extreme Sienna is our contribution to the van culture movement that's happening right now," says Leos. "People are showing a lot of vision and adapting vans to serve for almost any purpose. We wanted to take this idea all the way to the next level."
The Extreme Sienna is a very different look from last year's SEMA Sienna: the off-road-ready Ultimate Utility Vehicle. It's appearing at SEMA 2016 alongside a more classic Toyota minivan, a 1983 Van LE with built-in ice maker (pictured above).
Source: Toyota
