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Toyota toy cars go virtual with new app

TOKYO, Japan - Ever wondered how you would look racing to rescue a cat from a tree in a purple fire engine? Or cruising around town in a hot-dog van with your children?

Toyota is making it possible to step into the world of toy cars with its Camatte Vision augmented reality app unveiled at the 2015 International Tokyo Toy Show (June 18-21).

Camatte Vision is part of Toyota's Camatte series of concepts designed, the automaker says, to change the way children learn with toy vehicles. The aim is to provide a way for youngsters and their parents to share in the excitement of cars and trucks.

NEW APP, LARGE-SCALE TOYS

Toyota explained: "Using a tablet app, you can see how you and your family would look in a vast range of vehicles and colours."

Apart from its virtual offering, Toyota has added a large-scale version to its Camatte toy family - the Hajime.

IMAGE GALLERY:2015 Toyota Camatte concepts

Toyota said: “The first step is for families to get inside Hajime and take a photo of themselves. Using a tablet, Camatte Vision allows users to customise the vehicle's appearance with 13 body types and 12 colours.

“Holding the tablet above a road course lay-out shows the vehicle as if in motion, with the family inside.”

CAMATTE HAJIME

Although the name Hajime means "beginning" in Japanese, it’s actually the sixth member of Toyota's Camatte family, following the Sora, Daichi, Takumi, 57s and 57s Sports.

Toyota said: “Hajime features Camatte's signature swoppable exterior panels, adjustable pedals and driver's seat to allow children to get behind the wheel while their parents are close behind in the rear.”

“The Camatte Hajime is a real working car - youngsters are able to get inside, buckle up, turn the steering wheel and push the pedals (but not drive-off of course).”

Camatte Hajime specifications:
Length - 3m
Width – 1.3m
Height – 1.2m
Wheelbase – 1.8m
Seating capacity – three

ENTER THE VIRTUAL WORLD: By using Toyota's new Camatte Vision app, in conjunction with its Camatte Vision car, families can experience toys in a virtual world. Image: Toyota

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