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Armored Toyota is a pleasure palace in disguise

Zach Bowman — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Safety, Videos, Toyota, Specialty, Luxury

We've seen our fair share of kitted out armored vehicles, from bullet-proof BMW models to Land Rover SUVs that can take a land mine. But Lexani Motorcars has recently put its armored car experience to work on a Toyota Sequoia. Why? The company isn't saying, but we imagine a Toyota is somewhat less conspicuous than a high-dollar German sedan. With sufficient armoring on five sides to protect the machine from 7.62x51 mm rifle rounds and under body plating stout enough to keep the occupants safe from both grenades and land mines.

But this isn't some brutal tank. Inside, the Sequoia serves up leather seating, wine coolers galore, a massive, retractable LCD flat screen (which doubles as a cabin divider) and and beautiful wood trim. Rear passengers can see exactly what's going on outside thanks to a bevy of discreet cameras, and most of the onboard electronics look to be controllable via an iPad. Check it out below for a closer look.

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Armored Toyota is a pleasure palace in disguise originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota readies "DragQuoia" Sequoia Family Dragster for SEMA

Zach Bowman — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, SUV, Toyota, Police/Emergency, Specialty, Racing

Oh, SEMA. There's no other show on the face of the planet that would be so bold as to serve up a creation like the one seen above. This is the questionably named DragQuoia, and it's a slammed Toyota Sequoia with a 650-horsepower TRD supercharged V8 engine shoved under the hood, complete with nitrous. Toyota says the machine can bolt down the quarter mile in somewhere between nine and 10 seconds, thanks in part to the fact it has been stripped of 1,600 pounds of "non-essential" weight - presumably dirty diapers and sippy cups. The DragQuoia was built by NHRA Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown as part of the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge.

A set of 21.5-inch wide rear tires help shuttle the power to the pavement, and indoors, the DragQuoia features four race seats with harnesses for fun with the family as well as a full roll cage and an appropriately sized parachute. The DragQuoia faces off against a Kyle Busch-designed Camry, a Prius whipped up by Clint Bowyer and a Tundra penned by Alexis DeJoria. Fans can vote for their favorite, with the winner taking home a $50,000 check from Toyota from their charity of choice. Check out the full press release below.

Continue reading Toyota readies "DragQuoia" Sequoia Family Dragster for SEMA

Toyota readies "DragQuoia" Sequoia Family Dragster for SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Sequoia dumps 4.6L V8 for 2013, adds Blu-Ray player

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Japan, Technology, Toyota

Buyers stepping into a 2013 Toyota Sequoia can expect to do so without the choice of a 4.6-liter V8. The big, body-on-frame SUV will roll into showrooms with big 5.7-liter V8 as standard equipment, as the smaller engine has been discontinued. With 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, the iForce 5.7 liter gives the Sequoia a tow rating of up to 7,400 pounds. The six-speed automatic transmission of last year stays on to shuttle power to either a two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system that boasts a lockable Torsen limited-slip center differential.

Those who feel like spending a little extra cash can step up to Platinum trim for a rash of interior niceties. More importantly, the higher trim serves up an Adaptive Variable Suspension, which offers the driver a total of three damping settings.

For the first time, the 2013 Sequoia offers back passengers the luxury of a Blu-Ray player, and Toyota claims the SUV is the first production vehicle in the world to offer high-definition rear-seat entertainment. Toyota's Entune multimedia system is also newly available for 2013. Check out the full press blast below.

Continue reading Toyota Sequoia dumps 4.6L V8 for 2013, adds Blu-Ray player

Toyota Sequoia dumps 4.6L V8 for 2013, adds Blu-Ray player originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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