Toyota Developing Cars with Feelings...Literally!

vanshmack · 07-26-2004, 11:48 AM

From the New York Times, free registration required.

An Automobile With Feelings
By SABRA CHARTRAND

Published: July 26, 2004

The expression "road rage" usually refers to infuriated drivers who lose control of their temper and lash out at other motorists. But what if a car could also express anger, crouching low on its wheel base and glowering with red headlights like a lion about to pounce?

Four inventors working for Toyota in Japan have won a patent for a car that they say can help drivers communicate better by glaring angrily at another car cutting through traffic as well as appear to cry, laugh, wink, or just look around.

Story

Askani · 07-26-2004, 12:12 PM

I think I saw some crap like this a few years ago on one of those TLC future car shows... It has lights all over the body that would change color, and to top it off it had a tail that it wagged... That's so stupid...

SUPERBADD75 · 07-26-2004, 12:17 PM

sounds like it's something that is inventive and different. it won't be something that would sell in the U.S., but it does show individuality..... something GM could use.

however, that crap about making driving entertaining.... just make more cars fun to drive, like the Miata, and there will be no need for gimmicks.

**Rex Raider** · 07-26-2004, 12:31 PM

It would sell in the US. Some of you Americans will buy anything!

(Singing wall fish? Pancake flippers?)

3eb · 07-26-2004, 12:34 PM

^^^^^^^hahaha, yeah i was gonna say, i bet some americans would be crazy about stupid crap like this. it's a gimmick, and many americans are suckers for gimmicks. in fact, america is probably about the only place something like this would sell.

vanshmack · 07-26-2004, 01:23 PM

This sounds distinctly Japanese in flavor, doesn't it? I mean, don't they have all those bizzaro TV programs that feature things like blowfish eating, followed by nude gameshows?

Smaart Aas Saabr · 07-26-2004, 02:31 PM

Toyota has this annual design competition that results in all these weird "cars" coming out...

One about a dozen years ago went faster the more you screamed at it...

GM_Guy81 · 07-26-2004, 02:51 PM

dont you guys see, this is going to replace stickers as the new rice.

akumaknight · 07-26-2004, 04:07 PM

Seems to me that car would be deemed unsafe to drive on public roads... I know i'd be stairing a car that freaking winked at me.... and then hit a tree. (Law suite agaisnt Toyata M******!) BRING ON THIS CAR!

2500HD 4x4 · 07-26-2004, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by akumaknight@Jul 26 2004, 08:07 PM
Seems to me that car would be deemed unsafe to drive on public roads... I know i'd be stairing a car that freaking winked at me.... and then hit a tree. (Law suite agaisnt Toyata M******!) BRING ON THIS CAR!

ya i mite have a broken neck but ill have a big *** bank account :laughbounce:

surferdude00711 · 07-27-2004, 11:38 PM

Toyota is dropping Mr2 and Celica for 2006, could this be to make room for new Supra?

surferdude00711 · 07-27-2004, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rex Raider@Jul 26 2004, 04:31 PM
It would sell in the US. Some of you Americans will buy anything!

(Singing wall fish? Pancake flippers?)

Eggstractors? john basedows national shape up video? the ultimate chopper? mercedes ML class?

69nova · 07-29-2004, 08:50 AM

Feeling?
When was the last Toyota that you encountered have any lines that showed feeling? They should direct their efforts more toward eliminating that "ho-hum" look that graces their autos.
I always thought a big, pop-up finger mounted to the rear of my Caravan would do nicely. :lol:

07-26-2004, 12:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
SUPERBADD75 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: at the corner of walk and don't walk Drives: 2008 Trailblazer LT3 2009 Mustang Posts: 2,899	sounds like it's something that is inventive and different. it won't be something that would sell in the U.S., but it does show individuality..... something GM could use. however, that crap about making driving entertaining.... just make more cars fun to drive, like the Miata, and there will be no need for gimmicks. __________________ Acura: Because if you want a really nice Honda, there's only one choice. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." --Albert Einstein - 2008 Trailblazer LT3 - 2009 Mustang SUPPORT AMERICA: BOYCOTT WAL-MART

07-26-2004, 12:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rex Raider Administrator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Drives: 2009 Camry Hybrid (company car) Posts: 11,787	It would sell in the US. Some of you Americans will buy anything! (Singing wall fish? Pancake flippers?) __________________ Sure, I drive a Toyota, but at least I don't have to pay for it.

07-26-2004, 02:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Smaart Aas Saabr 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Montréal, Québec Posts: 8,698	Toyota has this annual design competition that results in all these weird "cars" coming out... One about a dozen years ago went faster the more you screamed at it... __________________ What will destroy our country and us is not the financial crisis but the fact that liberals think the free market is some kind of sect or cult...That’s not what the free market is. The free market is just a measurement, a device to tell us what people are willing to pay for any given thing at any given moment. The free market is a bathroom scale. You may hate what you see when you step on the scale. ‘Jeeze, 230 pounds!’ But you can’t pass a law making yourself weigh 185.

07-26-2004, 02:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
GM_Guy81 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,267	dont you guys see, this is going to replace stickers as the new rice. __________________ "Government at its best is a necessary evil, at its worst it is an intolerable one" - Thomas Paine

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07-26-2004, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
vanshmack 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: People's Republic of California Drives: 2007 Tahoe LT, 1987 Buick Grand National Posts: 1,379	From the New York Times, free registration required. An Automobile With Feelings By SABRA CHARTRAND Published: July 26, 2004 The expression "road rage" usually refers to infuriated drivers who lose control of their temper and lash out at other motorists. But what if a car could also express anger, crouching low on its wheel base and glowering with red headlights like a lion about to pounce? Four inventors working for Toyota in Japan have won a patent for a car that they say can help drivers communicate better by glaring angrily at another car cutting through traffic as well as appear to cry, laugh, wink, or just look around. Story

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07-26-2004, 12:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Askani 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: South FLA... Drives: 1962 Corvair 1979 Corvette 1997 Sonoma Posts: 297	I think I saw some crap like this a few years ago on one of those TLC future car shows... It has lights all over the body that would change color, and to top it off it had a tail that it wagged... That's so stupid...

07-26-2004, 12:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
3eb 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 317	^^^^^^^hahaha, yeah i was gonna say, i bet some americans would be crazy about stupid crap like this. it's a gimmick, and many americans are suckers for gimmicks. in fact, america is probably about the only place something like this would sell.

07-26-2004, 01:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
vanshmack 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: People's Republic of California Drives: 2007 Tahoe LT, 1987 Buick Grand National Posts: 1,379	This sounds distinctly Japanese in flavor, doesn't it? I mean, don't they have all those bizzaro TV programs that feature things like blowfish eating, followed by nude gameshows?

07-26-2004, 04:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
akumaknight 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 230	Seems to me that car would be deemed unsafe to drive on public roads... I know i'd be stairing a car that freaking winked at me.... and then hit a tree. (Law suite agaisnt Toyata M******!) BRING ON THIS CAR!

07-27-2004, 11:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
surferdude00711 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,703	Toyota is dropping Mr2 and Celica for 2006, could this be to make room for new Supra?

07-29-2004, 08:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
69nova 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,287	Feeling? When was the last Toyota that you encountered have any lines that showed feeling? They should direct their efforts more toward eliminating that "ho-hum" look that graces their autos. I always thought a big, pop-up finger mounted to the rear of my Caravan would do nicely. :lol:

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