Hard Kandy Toyota Custom Yaris for SEMA

The Toyota Yaris is known for offering its owners a stylish package, with an emphasis on value. Yaris buyers have creative spirits and when it comes to their vehicle, these owners value a balanced blend of style and feature content to reflect their own personalities. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. including their own Toyota Corporate Accessories Department (CAD), and some key aftermarket suppliers worked together to showcase an example of how a Yaris 5-Door Liftback can be customized to enhance its youthful attitude.

The Toyota custom Hard Kandy Yaris theme is focused on the female buyer, and shows how customization can reflect ones interest in music, media, and styling elements that are important to the young, independent woman. It also reflects a free-spirited outlook that is attainable for owners who value customization, and want to personalize their vehicle.

Visual Image Systems Co. produced the custom exterior wrap to serve as the foundation for the theme. The wrap incorporates a design in shades of pink, which includes swirling ribbons for movement, and flames to add an element of strength. The exterior wrap is complemented with a sport body kit, Toyota CAD roof end spoiler, and an Inalfa 845 Signature Series built-in sunroof, that features a one touch open and close illuminated switch that allows you to fully open, close, or vent the solar tinted glass panel, and convenient standard auto close. Toyota CAD supplied Pirelli PZero Nero tires and 18-inch maximum contrast wheels with machined and black finish to complete the exterior modifications.

The custom interior showcases Roadwire OEM Replacement Leather Interior and includes factory matching leather trim colors, as well as Alcantara, highlighted with custom embossments to match the interior and exterior graphics, and Toyota Yaris embroideries. Alcantara was used for custom seating trim, door panel inserts, and a complete headliner replacement. GGBailey.com provided custom carpeted floor mats featuring thickly serged edges and computer controlled embroidery depicting the Yaris name in pink, to complement the interior upholstery.

Ground Effects Limited further enhanced the interior by embellishing the door panels and center cluster with a pink lightening design using a seven-stage water-immersion image transfer process that instantly affixes any color, design, or pattern to a non-porous product. The pink lightening on the interior complements the exterior graphics theme and makes a statement that encompasses power, strength, and personalization.

Toyota CAD provided additional interior upgrades including an interior light kit, sport pedals, sport shift knob, and a Blu-Logic Bluetooth hands-free system. Performance modifications include an axle-back exhaust and a Fujita cold air intake system.

A premium audio/visual system was provided by Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. and allows the ultimate control of an iPod through a touch-screen control interface. West Coast Customs further enhanced the technology in the Hard Kandy Yaris by building a media center that dons an in-car computer and media management server provided by VMOD and a 7-inch LCD/TFT high resolution monitor provided by Vizualogic. This system is capable of getting 3G internet service allowing vehicle occupants the ability to stay connected to friends, family, and colleagues.

After its debut at the 2009 SEMA Show, the Hard Kandy Yaris will be used by Toyota, Alpine, and Roadwire for a variety of consumer and industry events.