SEMA Preview: Toyota's Vegas-bound Venzas
by Damon Lavrinc on Sep 29th 2008 at 4:55PM 
Click either image for a gallery of Toyota's Vegas-bound Venzas
When you think about the Toyota Venza, we doubt the first thing that comes to mind is customization. But that hasn't stopped Toyota from tapping Street Image, Inc. and long-time partner Five Axis to create a duo of Venza project cars for November's SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
The two low-slung crossovers (don't call them wagons) attempt to highlight and accentuate the active lifestyles of the Venza's core demographic, beginning with the Street Image variant (above) that boasts an upgraded engine and brakes, massive rollers, a lowered ride height, body kit, a black/burgundy interior and a sat-nav-equipped entertainment system. Toyota says the Street Image SportLux version attempts "to give the occupants the feel of a refined sports car while retaining the Venza's utility and functionality." We say, good luck.
Five Axis makes a slightly more compelling case for customizing the Venza with a stow-away rack system created by Magna Car Top Systems that can transport everything from bicycles to skis. New front and rear bumpers, wider fenders and pot-hole averse 20x10.5-inch wheels round out the exterior mods on the Venza AS V.We'll be checking out both models in Vegas in a few weeks, but check the gallery below now for a preview.
[Source: Toyota Open Road Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Torrent 5:00PM (9/29/2008)
I've realized that Five Axis ruins a lot of car that actually have potential. Remember the Five Axis IS-F?
*BARF*
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catgirlshyla 5:00PM (9/29/2008)
Of course, we'll never get it stateside.
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Jj 5:05PM (9/29/2008)
The Venza will be sold here.
I personally keep forgetting about it. Everytime there is a post on it I think "Oh yeah, the Venza"
ehisforadam 9:06AM (9/30/2008)
The Venza was engineered in Ann Arbor, MI and it's being made in Kentucky, so I'm pretty dame sure we're getting it state side.
Destroyer 5:05PM (9/29/2008)
Argggghhhh my eyes!!!!!
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JAZ 6:50PM (9/29/2008)
........................................That's a toyota?
DasBoot! 5:09PM (9/29/2008)
Been there done that...
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/04/have-bike-will-travel-the-opel-antaras-hideaway-bike-rack/
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PiCASSO 6:40PM (9/29/2008)
Good catch... this is something that GM should apply for their NA market.
stevereportdotcom 5:09PM (9/29/2008)
That actually looks good. Crossovers are fun, but they should really work on a Solara replacement (Afforable 20k-25k coupe segment).
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Kumail 5:17PM (9/29/2008)
it looks like it has a face disorder.
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Mi key 5:24PM (9/29/2008)
The Street Image model doesn't look bad, kinda badass. I don't see the boys at Toy bring that to market anytime soon. That's a pretty wicked drop on that ride.
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Tim666 3:36PM (10/03/2008)
They stole rims from HARTAGE bmw's
wtf ?
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MoonRover 5:47PM (9/29/2008)
More frills that a southern belles pantaloons. Someone should have taken the designers pencil about half-way through the design process.
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Bonita 5:55PM (9/29/2008)
Other than that God-awful mug, it looks like a Matrix on steroids. Pretty cool for a Toyota. But obviously, it won't be offered with a manual transmission. Hmmm . . missed the boat again.
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retsel 5:54PM (9/29/2008)
I dont know about u... but this looks like the next ford edge... The japs are doing it again... the Camry was a imitation Taurus...
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BoneHeadOtto 10:24PM (9/29/2008)
LOL yeah toyota copied the taurus. Thanks to the movie robo-cop the Taurus was mildly successful. Ford hasnt been able to copy that success yet and everyone else has surpassed it. Hows that ford 500 working out? Oh sorry new ford taurus i mean.
maybe ford can redeem themselves by bringing back the SHO. Atleast with that car you could go fast while looking ugly
waiownsyou 6:44PM (9/29/2008)
Wow that CUV looks pretty sweet... except for the rear end that makes it look like a sharper and dropped Sienna.
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narutouzumaki16 6:50PM (9/29/2008)
sure looks more like a wagon (which is a good thing) than a crappy crossover
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ehisforadam 9:09AM (9/30/2008)
It is a cross over, actually. Those weeks make it look a lot smaller than it is. In reality, it's pretty tall.
Michael 7:54PM (9/29/2008)
NEEDS....BIGGER....WHEELS!!!
;)
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