Minivans are not race cars. Furthest thing from. That's how most drivers perceive them, anyway. A stock-car sedan like the Camry could be -- and is -- a winning NASCAR model, but a van?
Toyota thought it was about time somebody changed the expectation that a minivan can't offer exhilarating driving performance. The Toyota Sienna, affectionately dubbed "The Swagger Wagon," features a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 300-horsepower output -- a hefty amount, more than worthy of becoming a stock car racer.
Team Toyota Sienna entered One Lap of America, a classic motorsport event held since 1984, in which contestants must drive over 2,800 miles through 12 different states, and compete along the way in 17 separate challenges. The drives are long and arduous, sometimes lasting over 24 hours. The Sienna was the perfect model to make this trek a little more comfortable.
The team created the Sienna R-Tuned, using the stock engine and chassis, but clearing out all of the extraneous weight. No longer a family-hauler, the only seats left are two racing harnesses for driver and shotgun passenger. The Sienna R-Tuned also sports bigger brakes, racing shocks and springs, and performance wheels and tires, among other track-worthy tweaks.
We were never expecting to take first place, when the competition included McLaren supercars, Porsches, and Corvettes, all holding a significant advantage of a slimmer body style. However, out of 75 entrants, the Sienna R-Tuned came in 21st -- the top third.
It may not be a supercar, but can a supercar seat seven screaming children, a golden retriever, two weeks' worth of groceries, and the tools for your next DIY project at the same time?
Come down to Classic Toyota to test drive a surprisingly sporty van, or check out other new Toyota vehicles for sale in Galveston.
