Early indications of Toyota embracing its inner Virgil Exner

(EXPANDED FROM 4/11/2014)

The above photograph shows the beginning of Toyota’s embrace of sci-fi styling. In the foreground, the second-generation Sienna minivan (which was produced from 2003 to 2009) has simple but attractive styling (Wikipedia, 20121a). 

In the background is a Venza, which was produced for the U.S. market from the 2008 to 2015 model years (Wikipedia, 2021b). Even from afar you can see such a sharp stylistic shift that one might initially wonder if they were cars from the same automaker. Yet this change in design philosophy occurred within only five years.

Say goodbye to neat and tidy styling

The Venza’s designers were apparently intent upon hiding the sport-utility vehicle’s boxiness by distracting us with all manner of character lines and curves.

Consider the upper corners of the tail lights: They have a cartoonish quality that reminds me of a 1961 Dodge’s elbow-shaped fins, which housed anti-aircraft missiles disguised as tail lights.

2015 Toyota Venza rear quarter

2015 Toyota Venza taillight from side

Meanwhile, the center of the Venza’s liftgate has a horizontal ridge whose only purpose I can imagine is to hold beer cans.

And if that wasn’t enough to elicit double takes, the massive D-pillar is visually relieved by sheetmetal sculpting (a good idea), but it inexplicably loops back into a beltline crease (a bad idea).

Also see ‘1961-63 Imperial: Ode to Virgil Exner’s neo-classical excesses’

The Venza looks like an homage to Virgil Exner, the chief stylist for Chrysler in the late-50s and early-60s. After all those years of dutifully mimicking European designers, Toyota began to break free from its chains. That meant abandoning a relatively smooth and clean look that the automaker first began developing in the 1970s.

1961 Dodge wagon rear
This “with it” young couple was excited about this 1961 Dodge wagon’s exotic styling, fold-down back seat, electric tailgate window and comfy blankets. They were less excited about the lack of mosquito netting (Old Car Brochures).

Venza anticipates Toyota’s new stylistic vision

Whereas the Sienna represented Toyota’s boring old past, the Venza pointed to the automaker’s exciting future of sci-fi zaniness. And as we have discussed (go here), Toyota subsequently went to outer space to find the talent they needed to take the automaker’s styling to a whole new level.

2009 Toyota Sienna C-pillar

The Toyota Venza was an important turning point in American automotive design. Once again car buyers were able to experience stylistic exuberance not seen since the heady days of the early-60s. Oh, what a feeling!

NOTES:

This is an expanded version of a story originally posted April 10, 2014.

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