VIDEO: Customized Prius proves that hybrids and common sense do not correlate
It's often been said that just because you can it doesn't mean you should. Automotive customizers frequently go well beyond the bounds of good taste and common sense. Fortunately, the Toyota Prius has not been frequently included in these aesthetic misadventures. A Swedish customizer has now seen fit to to correct this oversight by applying just about every modification know to man to one innocent Prius. Apparently the powertrain is the only thing left untouched. With all the extra mass this beasty surely carries, this Prius no doubt makes the standard model look like a speed demon. It also makes a stock Prius look gorgeous by comparison. I'm not sure what else there is to say about this travesty but you can check out the video after the jump... if you dare!
[Source: Streetfire.net]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Epyx 2:58PM (8/18/2008)
Kill it, Kill it!
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Chris Carpenter 3:59PM (8/18/2008)
Some folks say the same thing about the stock Prius. On a related note, there is a reason that you don't see computers in that beige color anymore. If you didn't make the correlation, read on...
I have no problem with the Prius...I do have a problem with unimaginative people who believe character should be suppressed. So you wouldn't design it that way...there's a possibility that he or she might prefer chocolate milk over Diet Coke; will that give you a case of the fits as well?
Jared 3:13PM (8/18/2008)
The outside accually has it's plus sides on style. The reverse koingisegge (sp... duh) doors are a little over top, but i kinda like the wide body look... The paint is a different story.
And i don't even want to talk about the interior. I just want the front seats to put into my track car.
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philmcneal 3:13PM (8/18/2008)
wtf man just spend it on a hymotion/a123 conversion and be more happy than this trash!!
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Chris Carpenter 3:52PM (8/18/2008)
It's about personal expression and imagination. I wouldn't slam on someone for wearing Dockers and a golf shirt every day, and would expect the same courtesy if I decided to do something unique with my ride. You can't tell me that a stock Prius is inspiring, imaginative, or even creative...it's just not. Homogeneity is the story of today's auto market - kudos to someone for trying to add a little character to their ride. It's not what I would have done, but that is probably what makes me appreciate it even more.
Keep your Dockers clean and your shirt tucked in and you'll be just fine.
Chris Carpenter 3:40PM (8/18/2008)
Sam, you're totally missing the point. This is about art and expression, not necessarily functionality or efficiency. One major problem with the fuel-efficient car market is the lack of imagination or artistic expression. They are dull, boring, and uninspiring little cookie cutter go-carts. I drive a Honda that has 150k miles on it and it has never needed anything more than routine service...and I'm bored out of my mind with it. I don't want a fancy sports car - I just want some imagination, inspiration, and character in my car. Though Cadillacs are a bit decadent for my tastes, I like their commercial tag - when you turn it on, does it return the favor?
Some people wear Dockers and a golf shirt every day, and that's fine. Some people eat some form of grilled chicken for every meal. It's predictable, acceptable, and pushes no boundaries with anyone. I am wearing Chuck Taylors with flames on them and a pair of jeans with a rip in the knee. While I'm not a fan of some custom jobs, I certainly can't fault someone for trying to insert a little imagination and character into an otherwise business casual car.
Can you imagine the design skills and disciplined fabrication time that went into making those parts? Can you envision the painting scheme and design iterations that went into creating the skin of that car? Can you imagine the matching of materials, colors, and textures that went into the interior of that car? Probably not. All you are seeing is the Stepford qualities of an out-of-the-box Prius gone terribly wrong.
The issue, you see, is not how terrible it would be if ALL Priuses (Prii?) were debased like this. Rather, it is to appreciate the effort and imagination that goes into making something unique for the sake of the creative process. You don't have to want it or like it, but please don't disparage imagination - certainly as our selection of cars is becoming more and more homogeneous.
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James Sonne 1:55PM (8/19/2008)
And on the same token, do not disparage my sense of taste in not liking it. I can voice my protest and applaud the design of a regular vehicle just as you can voice your enthusiasm for creativity for creativity's sake. If you're so keen on expression, allow us our own expression.
Chris Carpenter 3:46PM (8/18/2008)
Sam, you're totally missing the point. This is about art and expression, not necessarily functionality or efficiency. One major problem with the fuel-efficient car market is the lack of imagination or artistic expression. They are dull, boring, and uninspiring little cookie cutter go-carts. I drive a Honda that has 150k miles on it and it has never needed anything more than routine service...and I'm bored out of my mind with it. I don't want a fancy sports car - I just want some imagination, inspiration, and character in my car. Though Cadillacs are a bit decadent for my tastes, I like their commercial tag - when you turn it on, does it return the favor?
Some people wear Dockers and a golf shirt every day, and that's fine. Some people eat some form of grilled chicken for every meal. It's predictable, acceptable, and pushes no boundaries with anyone. I am wearing Chuck Taylors with flames on them and a pair of jeans with a rip in the knee. While I'm not a fan of some custom jobs, I certainly can't fault someone for trying to insert a little imagination and character into an otherwise business casual car.
Can you imagine the design skills and disciplined fabrication time that went into making those parts? Can you envision the painting scheme and design iterations that went into creating the skin of that car? Can you imagine the matching of materials, colors, and textures that went into the interior of that car? Probably not. All you are seeing is the Stepford qualities of an out-of-the-box Prius gone terribly wrong.
The issue, you see, is not how terrible it would be if ALL Priuses (Prii?) were debased like this. Rather, it is to appreciate the effort and imagination that goes into making something unique for the sake of the creative process. You don't have to want it or like it, but please don't disparage imagination - certainly as our selection of cars is becoming more and more homogeneous.
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Fuzzball 5:15PM (8/18/2008)
Kill it! Kill it with Fire! No, wait. Nuke the site from orbit; it's the only way to be sure.
This is just horrid:
- The first thing I noticed was the big donkey dck running down the middle blocking over half the visibility out the front windshield.
- The doors take TWO HANDS to open? Really? All that money spent on disabling the rear doors, all that audio equipment, screens put in every available open space, crazy paint job, body kit, and racing seats (I'm getting there) and you couldn't even motorize the doors or moved the door handle to the center?
- WTF do you need racing seats for IN A PRIUS????
If you want to throw your money away on stupid crap, please send it to me. I promise to put it to good productive use.
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Donnie Mac 5:17PM (8/18/2008)
Chris, please don't disparage people's different tastes.
You talk imagination and out-of-the-box thinking, and all I see is
another guy who customized his car the same way thousands of other people excessively customize their Civics, Integras, RSXs, Maximas, Mustangs, and countless other vehicles. Huge wings, gaudy paint jobs, etc etc ad nauseum.
Sure, it's great that these people want to be "unique", but the way
they're doing it en masse, much the same way as the "business casual" you referred to the Prius as being - they're not customizing it any differently than the thousands of other people are on the "import scene".
There certainly has to be a way to customize a car and do it in a way that doesn't visually offend a multitude of people. Not offending with words, but offending with styling.
It is our freedom to express ourselves however we wish. HOWEVER, we DON'T have to respect the way something looks just because it's the product of someone's imagination. We're all entitled to dislike.....something we don't like. Be it taste, styling, whatever.
I gotta admit, though, at least you're fighting for something you believe in. I do respect that.
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Chris Carpenter 8:34AM (8/19/2008)
Point well taken, Donnie. While I do agree that this does fit the genre of the thousands of other ricers (though this is strictly a show car that is not meant to be driven), I still am bothered when folks make a snap judgment based on taste without ever recognizing effort. Sure, this is a bit much for most folks. Actually, I think it gave a few of the folks in here a spastic colon.
The fact that I don't personally find it appealing on many levels doesn't preclude me from appreciating the work that went into the fabrication and the amount of imagination that went into turning something so bland into something so custom (value judgment on taste withheld).
Let it turn your stomach, or let it inspire you - either way, there is a lot of work that went into that finished product that someone is likely proud of at the end of the day.
Hans Wurst 9:05PM (8/18/2008)
>a pair of jeans with a rip in the knee
How very, very unique and creative!
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Chris Carpenter 8:39AM (8/19/2008)
/Sarcasm. Not saying I'm unique. Point is that one size doesn't always fit all.
LaughingMan 11:57PM (8/18/2008)
Chris. No one is trying to debase imagination.
Just because they DID something like this doesn't mean we have to like it, like the creators, or automatically put them on a pedestal for the effort the creators expended for being "individuals" just like all the cool kids who pretend to race their cars at night.
It's OK if you think it's a great thing, but don't tell me what I can't feel about this, and don't tell other people that they can't criticize it.
I don't like cosmetic modders. I don't respect them, I think it's extremely narcissistic and childish. People are living in a fantasy world inspired by idiotic movies like The Fast and the Furious.
You may think otherwise, but that's why we are both allowed to express our opinions.
They are certainly welcome to do something like this... and I'm well within my rights to think it's a terrible waste of a perfectly good Prius.
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Chris M 3:49AM (8/19/2008)
One thing is for certain, no one will recognize that there was a Prius under all that!
Loved the paint job.
The fender modifications, um, well, nah.
The weird door pivots are champion stupid.
I can understand the urge to customize and modify, but when it starts interfering with functionality, that's going too far. In this case, the pivot doors are difficult to open and close, and basically eliminated the rear doors, making the rear seat useless (maybe they took the rear seat out, couldn't tell from the video).
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Torrent 6:03AM (8/19/2008)
Terrible. It should be detonated.
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Chris Carpenter 8:02AM (8/19/2008)
Dear Tragically Myopic [Hans] - I'm not saying I am totally unique or different. If you read my response, I'm saying that one size doesn't always fit all.
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Bo 8:19AM (8/19/2008)
Hi! I´m the guy that took the film photage in this little movie. I can tell you in short about the background of this car. The complete job was filmed and aired on a series of Swedish tv-shows during spring 2008.
The purpose was to build a 100 % show car, not intended for driving at all. "Wild and crazy" was the motto, just in order to chock the viewers. A lot of money was spent, most of it came from sponsors. These guys do now how to build tasty clean cars, but that was not the issue this time. So I bet they´re glad you notice their car! :-)
Here is a quick translation of the facts:
Car: Toyota Prius -07.
Owner: Toyota Sweden.
Builder: Classe Gustafson, Elvis Häggbom, Kenny Kyrk.
Engine: 4-cyl VVT-i 16V 1,5 liter plus electric battery, 201,6 volt.
Effect: 77 hp petrol plus 68 hp electric.
Torque: 115 Nm plus 115 Nm.
Transmission: CVT-automat.
Chassie: Air suspension from Karnag.
Brakes: WP Pro 6-pot, 360 mm front, original back.
Rims: Qualifier Black from Realcar, 20 inch.
Tires: Yokohama Advan Sport, 245/35-20.
Exhaust: Ferrita 3-inch system from cat back.
Exterior: Realcars Volvo XC90-front in glass fiber plus widening 12 cm per side, side skits in ABS plastic, back doors removed, front doors scissor like hanging from the rear, carbon fiber venturi, cleaned from lists, no rear mirrors, no windshield wipers, dark tinted all around.
Interior: Elvis ”multimedia banana” in the front screen with screens and bass. No rear seats. Sparco Circuit Pro racing chairs in leather and alcantara, steering wheel modified in carbon fiber and with new thumb grips.
Multimedia: Pioneer Avic-D3 head unit, twin GAS DV-1000 dvd-players. Rockford Fosgate Power-amplifiers whereof one 1.500 Watt mono, one 500 Watt mono and two 600 Watt 4-channel. Rockford Fosgate Punsch-basses; three 15-inch, two 8-inch. Eigth Rockford Fosgate T162S 6,5-inch. Six Rockford Fosgate 1-farad condensators. 12 GAS 7-inch screens, two Samsung 20-inch screens, 1 Samsung 37-inch-tv. 350 meter cable, two Ctek 25 ampere-chargers, Samsung-camputer with touchscreen, broadband Internet, web cam, four Optima Yellow Top-batteries.
Color: House of Kolor orange-gold, copper flake on the roof, air brush motives by Kenny plus vinyl art.
Building cost: 11.755 Euro (17.336 USD) for parts, material and car. Plus work!
Building time: ++960 hours
Sponsors: Toyota, BRL, Realcar, Tipro AB, Samsung-Fujitsu, Yokohama, Ferrita, Bosch, Bilskräddarna, 3, Optima, Teng Tools, Plastic Padding, 3M, RCL Racing, Karnag, Billyftarservice, de Factor, Verktygsboden, Pooltech, Water Company, Larmassistans, Västsvensk Port & El, Graphicline, Tefcar, SC Engineering.
Thanks to: Åke on Tipro AB, Anders Aldrin, Nisse on Kil, Rickard Liljeberg ex RCL Racing, Ulf Eriksson, Kristian Hagebö, Nathalie and Europeiska Motor Täby.
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Chris Carpenter 8:24AM (8/19/2008)
Bo - Nice work on the photo presentation - the colors, angles, and light are awesome.
Chris Carpenter 8:21AM (8/19/2008)
So let's try something different. I'll lay my cards on the table. Personally, I would never do that to a Prius in a million years. It's not my style, and cars are not even my taste. I'm not a mini-trucker, an import tuner, a monster trucker, or a hot rodder.
If I had my choice, I'd have an old Land Rover with a tire on the hood that ran on biodiesel and waste vegetable oil, bad paint, a few dents and scratches, possibly some rust, oil spots on the ground, and bags of character (at least in my eyes).
I'm not saying that anyone has to like this Prius or anything like that. What I am saying is that we are often quick to criticize without thinking about the bigger picture. Does it really matter what color, or how many monitors, or what seats? No.
What matters is that one size doesn't always fit all. What matters is that some people have actually learned to fabricate stuff for cars that is not stock. It's really difficult to work with fiberglass, paints, resins, electronics, etc...What matters is that someone put some time and care into personalizing their car - not that it isn't in a similar genre as some of the other tuners or ricers, but that it is the unique output of someone's labor and imagination - no matter how gaudy it may appear to some.
I used to throw down on high school kids for wasting their time and money on souped up cars. Then I realized that what I would like to do with an old Land Rover is really no different in principle. The output may look worlds apart, but the creative input is really quite similar at it's core, I believe.
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