New Trends In Camouflage. From Toyota

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

A while ago, we showed you a system that helps military vehicles blend into the background. Back then I thought wouldn’t that be nice to have for a car? I bet there are occasions where you would prefer that you could simply look like you weren’t there. Tonight, I saw something that looks like the civilian version. It comes from Toyota.

To invited guests only, Toyota showed the Toyota Fun-Vii. Toyota says it is a “concept vehicle that heralds a not-too-distant future” where people, cars and society are linked.

“For instance, the whole vehicle body can be used as a display space, with the body color and display content changeable at will. This allows the entire vehicle to function as a terminal for displaying messages or other information.”

I’d say, put a camera on the other side, and that car will become invisible.

On intense questioning, spokesfolk at Toyota rendered the opinion that the body as display space probably won’t make it into production anytime soon, and that it is being used to dramatize the connective nature of future cars.

Really?

Ok, we won’t get flying cars. But can’t we have invisible ones? Please?

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Daveainchina Daveainchina on Nov 28, 2011

    $100 says you see this within 5 years on commercial vehicles with advertising on them in major cities everywhere.

  • Pch101 Pch101 on Nov 28, 2011
    For instance, the whole vehicle body can be used as a display space, with the body color and display content changeable at will. This allows the entire vehicle to function as a terminal for displaying messages or other information. I could see that provoking more than a few altercations.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
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