Hyundai and Kia PHOTO GALLERY

For a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with a number of different taxes and tariffs on imports, South Korea is dominated by local makers such as Hyundai and Kia, but recently, foreign companies have made attempts to slowly penetrate the country's tightly controlled car market.

Today, Toyota announced plans to begin exports of its U.S.-built Sienna minivan to distributors in South Korea with first shipments scheduled to arrive later this month.

Toyota entered the South Korean market for the first time in 2010, though the firm's Lexus luxury brand has been active in the country since 2001.

This is the first time that the Sienna, which is produced at Toyota’s manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, will be exported outside of North America. Toyota said that the initial plan calls for the export of approximately 600 units annually.

The Japanese brand began exporting U.S.-built vehicles in 1988 and in the 2010 calendar year, it shipped around 100,000 vehicles to 18 countries around the world.

“Toyota’s North American operations are constantly working to identify and expand new export opportunities for the vehicles we produce here, building on our extensive investments in auto production, research and development in the U.S. and helping to maintain a strong, stable base of jobs,” said Yoshimi Inaba, president and COO of Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

“With this development and other possible achievements in the future, we hope to continue boosting exports from our North American operations.”

PHOTO GALLERY

SEMA 2010: Sienna Swagger Wagon Supreme pops some Viagra, grows 44 inches

Apparently stretched Toyotas are going to be a big thing at SEMA this year. After recently revealing Cartel's "All Stretched Out" Scion xB, it now appears that Toyota will also show off a limousine/rolling office Sienna at SEMA in order to commemorate the popularity of its "Swagger Wagon" video.

Built in partnership with B.A.D. Company, the V6-powered "Swagger Wagon Supreme" wears a coat of Blue Swagger Opal and been stretched 44 inches. Also, this Sienna now rides on 20-inch KMC rims that hide an airbag suspension setup to make it more comfortable and easier to drive on the open road (...).

Due to the 44-inch extension, the roof panel has been replaced with an acrylic unit measuring about 8 feet. The new roof is meant to improve the "functional family vehicle's" interior ambiance.

Toyota outfitted the Swagger Wagon's interior with standard XLE amenities, but B.A.D. Company is the firm that threw in some extra flavor in the form of reversible seat cushions (to appeal to both children and adults), swiveling captain's chairs (one of which is a massaging "Spa Seat"), a Brazilian cherry hardwood floor, full JBL audio system, and more. Go ahead and scroll down for the full list from the press release.

Barring the silly airbag setup, dubs, and mega extension, the interior of this looks fit to compete with all those fancy Escalade-based rolling offices. Sadly, the movers and shakers who purchase those wouldn't be caught dead in a Sienna.

By Phil Alex

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Sienna Swagger Wagon Supreme Features [from Press Release]

• Base Vehicle: 2011MY Sienna SE & 2011MY Sienna XLE

Mechanical
• Performance: 3.5L V6 with 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
• Mechanical Modifications: Body extension of nearly 4 feet (44")
• Airbag suspension system: ground clearance range from 2.5 to 6.5-inches
• 20-inch chrome wheels designed by KMC
• Nitto 255/40R20 tires in the rear and 245/45R20 in the front
• Functioning power windows on stretched section of vehicle

Exterior
• Custom fabricated rear spoiler
• Multiple-step exterior paint process
• Shaved door handles on automatic sliding doors
• Custom acrylic roof replacement (approximately eight-feet long)
• Custom chrome exhaust tips

Interior & Audio
• Custom seating with reversible cushions
• Two swiveling captain's chairs in passenger area
• "Spa Seat" equipped with a multi-function, programmable massage unit
• Foldable hide-away table in sitting area
• Custom cabinetry with a cherry veneer finish and DuPont countertop
• Glass-front refrigerator
• Lowered and leveled floor finished in Brazilian cherry hardwood
• 23"-inch HP TouchSmart computer mounted on a custom bracket allowing multiple viewing positions both inside and outside the vehicle
• Xbox gaming system with DVD player
• Custom JBL surround sound audio system

o Toyota Original Equipment head unit through a JBL MS8 signal processor

o Eight JBL GTO 428 speakers in the main cabin

o Two GTO 428 speakers in the rear hatch

o Two JBL GTO 804 sub-woofers

o Four amplifiers totaling1700 watts of power