Don't Mess With This Minivan: Toyota Builds an Off-Road Sienna

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No, your eyes don't deceive you. Toyota has created a custom-made Sienna minivan that sits on top of a lifted Tacoma truck chassis. OK, Toyota, now you can call it a Toyota Sienna Busta Rhymes Star in Swagger Wagon Sequel" target="_blank">Swagger Wagon if you really want.

Black wheels, huge off-road tires, a black grille, and restyled fenders add a bit of brawn to this otherwise traditional minivan. Adding a matte black paint job, tinted headlights, and auxiliary lights, Toyota calls it the Ultimate Utility Vehicle (UUV).

Fittingly, the off-road Sienna will be shown at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November. But it will also play a major role in Toyota's Ever-Better Expedition, a project that takes vehicles through challenging, real-world environments. The goal is to improve the product development process and help the company better understand the needs of North American customers.

The Sienna travels alongside the Land Cruiser 200 and a variety of other vehicles setting off on the 110-day journey. The vehicles will head through Death Valley in California, Pikes Peak in Colorado, and the icy roads of Alaska. The Ever-Better Expedition is just one part of the Five Continents Driving Project, which adds more driving challenges across the world.

Source: Toyota

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