Toyota Turns Highlander Into a Spongebob-Themed Fishtank, Announces Competition Winner

Following the Texas barbecue-themed Tundra, Toyota has unveiled another custom concept based on the full-size pickup at the SEMA Show. The 2014 SpongeBob Highlander Tanked edition features an 800-gallon (3,028-liter) custom tank that can host around 115 individual fish!

The tank occupies the entire space behind the front seats and was designed by Animal Planet’s “Tanked” co-stars Wayde King and Brett Raymer in partnership with Toyota and Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants”.

More than 32 species populate the aquarium tank, which features a custom-built, complex filtration system including an overflow system, sterilizer, UV filter, temperature regulator and additional elements.

The SpongeBob theme carries throughout the interior details and the exterior wrap of the vehicle. The unusual Highlander will be featured in March 2014 in an episode of “Tanked” on Animal Planet.

Today, the Japanese brand also announced the winner of the 2013 Toyota Dream Build Challenge, which is the “Let’s Go Moto Tundra”, designed by Supercross stars Justin Brayton and Josh Grant with the help of Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross. The concept truck features an 8-foot (2,438-mm) rolling “pitlane”, complete with TV screens, a power washer, spare parts and tools.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Toyota Releases Pricing on 2011MY Cars and Trucks, Adds Standard Brake Overide Tech

Toyota has announced pricing for its U.S. market 2011 model year line-up, which will begin arriving at dealerships in August, with the exception of RAV4 that goes on sale in September.

The big news for the 2011 lineup is the installation of brake override technology as standard equipment across the range. This technology is designed to stop a car if the brakes and accelerator are applied simultaneously (see Consumer Report's video after the jump) and was adopted by Toyota to ease consumer concerns over sudden acceleration of its vehicles.

Aside from the redesigned 2011 Avalon that was introduced with the safety feature, brake override technology is now standard on the Yaris, RAV4 SUV, Land Cruiser SUV, Sequoia SUV and Tundra pickup truck.

There are more changes on certain models for the 2011 model year that you can check out in detail in the press release after the jump.

Toyota Conducts Voluntary Recall of 2011MY Tundra to Fix Drive Shafts

Approximately 51,000 Toyota Tundra trucks from the 2011 model year are subject to a new voluntary safety recall to inspect the rear drive shaft. According to the Japanese automaker, the rear drive shaft in a very small percentage of the affected vehicles (0.05%) may include a component (slip yoke) that could break due to improper casting during the foundry process. 

Toyota Recalling SUVs and Pickup Trucks Over Faulty Tire Pressure Monitors

Approximately 22,000 Toyota trucks and SUVs are being recalled due to a faulty calibration of the tire pressure monitoring system that does not activate the low tire-pressure warning light at the required minimum activation pressure. The affected vehicles include the Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Sequoia and Tundra from the 2008 through 2011 model year.

SEMA: Toyota Tundra Ducati Desmosedici Transporter with 500HP

Toyota showed off three Tundra concepts in Las Vegas but the coolest one in town was by far was the Ducati Desmosedici Transporter. Built to carry the only street legal MotoGP bike ever produced, the scorching hot Ducati Desmosedici RR, the customized Tundra has been modified to accept a 6.5-inch bed that features flip up bedsides and a motorized loading ramp. The pickup truck is of course tied thematically to the bike, incorporating the Italian motorcycle company's red paint finish with white stripes. Power is provided by a 5.7-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 500HP and 550-lbs/ft of torque.


Additional features include integrated tool and spares storage, popup solar panels for accessory power, 22-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico tires, a lowering kit and an upgraded braking system.

Toyota to Export U.S. Made Sequoia SUV and Tundra Pickup

With sales of large SUVs and pickup trucks in the States on the constant decline Toyota decided to partially deal with the oversupply problem by exporting the Sequoia SUV that's made in Indiana to the Middle East and South America, and the Tundra pickup truck made at its plant in Texas to South America. Annually, Toyota plans to ship approximately 15,000 units of the Sequoia to the Middle East, and around 150 units of the Sequoia and 1,000 units of the Tundra to South America. In both cases, exports are scheduled to start in December 2008.