Five Axis Toyota Venza is One Cool Ski Shuttle

A Toyota crossover pimped out for SEMA? While it’s true that pretty well anything goes at North America’s largest automotive extravaganza, the Specialty Equipment Market Association event held each November in Las Vegas, Toyota’s new Venza looks so good out of the box that it doesn’t need much in the way of modifications to pull eyeballs.

Just the same, Five Axis got hold of one and tastefully modified it with a custom outdoors theme, complete with skis, a snowboard and all. Its official name is Five Axis Venza Active Sports Versatility (AS V), and Toyota tells us that it was created to “illustrate the versatile applications of the new 2009 Toyota Venza with an emphasis on active sports.”

Magna Car Top Systems created the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) hideaway storage system for piling on your gear. The system, which pops out from under the rear of the car, features a weather proof rack for the show, not unlike the fixed ski bins some jurisdictions add to the fronts and rear ends of buses that loop through ski resorts, but more capable than that. Instead of just skis and snowboards, the ICC can also handle bicycles and other goods, depending on the attachments. Toyota might want to consider offering this handy item as an option.

The concept comes with some visual upgrades, of course, such as new front and rear bumpers and fender flares for tougher look, while five-spoke 20 by 10.5-inch Five Axis AD R6:F_SPEC wheels and low profile 305/45ZR20 Yokohama Advan ST tires give it a personalized look. The earthy two-tone color scheme was by Five Axis, a custom-blended mix of Lunar White and Bronze. Lastly, Five Axis custom exhaust finishers really add to the overall look.

Toyota also dipped into its TRD cookie jar for a little extra stopping power, choosing “TRD Big Brakes”, 15 inches up front and 13.6 in the rear, clamped down on by TRD forged calipers, six piston up front and four in back.

To complement the winter theme, the tricked out Venza will be connected to a trailer carrying a snowmobile, to highlight the crossover’s towing capability.