Toyota's Ultimate Utility Vehicle is a minivan fit for the apocalypse

One of my favorite pastimes is imagining which vehicle I'd commandeer should the apocalypse happen. I've dreamt of the Mercedes 6x6 G-Class and Ram pickup trucks. Never before have I imagined myself piloting a minivan after the fall of society as we know it ... that is, until now..

Thanks to Toyota, this Sienna minivan is now at the top of my list. It's called the Ultimate Utility Vehicle (UUV) and, as you can see with its knobby tires and matte black paint scheme, it's no standard Sienna.

IMAGE: TOYOTA

While the body might be a minivan, it rides on a tough Tacoma pickup frame, which has been lifted and fitted with some 22-inch Monster Energy off-road wheels.

Ensuring the UUV is as fast as it is mean-looking, Toyota also bolted up a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharger to the V6 engine. No word on how many ponies it now puts out, but I suspect it's no slouch.

An LED light bar has been bolted to the roof, which lights the way forward as the UUV rolls over whatever the heck it wants. And though it seems super unlikely, should it get stuck, the UUV also features a winch underneath its armored front bumper.

Part of me feels like this rig is entirely stupid. Another part of me sees it slightly differently; as a truck that offers the accessible and spacious cabin of a round-y family-hauling minivan with the off-road capability and attitude of a Toyota truck. And, for that, I love it.

Mashable