2021 Toyota Sienna Front Design Follows The Bullet Train

It’s a train-like design so it doesn’t feel like a bus.

Here’s an exercise to help you think. What comes to your mind when you think of a “bullettrain”? What about a futuristic, sleek thing like Hyperloop? Or, perhaps, Japan’s famous Shinkansen? The 2021 Toyota Sienna

You’re not unusual if you look at this redesigned van, and see some of Japan’s duckbilled supertrains in the lines. In fact, Toyota designers say that’s a part of the original idea. Toyota spoke to Motor1.com and other media during a conference call prior to the Sienna’s digital debut.

Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s Calty design office, said that the Shinkansen, Japan’s Bullet Train, inspired us on the front design. “It just looks powerful, speedy, and has a presence. So we wanted to infuse that phase into our Sienna.” It looks athletic and active, and it checks all the boxes.

Toyota also discussed the Sienna’s wider redesign on the same call. This includes more aggressive lines that link the minivan with other new products like the Avalon or Camry. Hunter spoke out about a particular aggressive shoulder line.

Minivans are loved by many people, but they aren’t thrilled with their boring appearance. Hunter stated that they tried to change the look of minivans. It was a big effort to do so. It’s stronger, it has a shoulder…so that many of our customers could feel that excitement and energy in the styling direction.

All of this, from the shoulder to the bullet-train-inspired nose to the chunky shoulder and sharp edges, is to mask the Sienna’s minivan-ness to customers. Hunter said that owners felt like they were driving minivans.

We will wait to see how Bus-like the Sienna driving experience feels. It is clear that Toyota has taken great measures to reduce the perception that its minivan is too big or boring.