Toyota Concept Vehicles

Toyota Concept Vehicles

The Toyota 1/X



Meet the Toyota 1/X (pronounced one-Xth). First introduced at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, the Toyota 1/X concept represents a total rethinking of how automobiles are made, what they can be made of, how they can be powered, and how little energy they need to consume both in manufacturing and in motion.

Think of the "X" in the Toyota 1/X like a mathematical symbol—a factor of how little impact it has in terms of energy use and emissions compared to today's vehicles, and the multiplication of the benefits it delivers.

For example, the body is largely composed of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), a material that is both exceptionally lightweight yet stronger than steel. The result is a vehicle that weighs a mere 420 kg (926 pds); about one-third the weight of the current generation Prius, yet offers a comparable cabin size.

The lighter body in turn can be powered by a smaller engine—in this case, an ultra-small plug-in hybrid system based on a small 500cc displacement engine capable of running on gasoline or biofuel. Fuel consumption is an estimated 50 percent of that of the current generation Prius—one of the most fuel efficient vehicles on the road—with even further reductions in emissions.

By looking decades down the road and envisioning the automobile society of the future, Toyota continues to evolve new techniques and technologies that benefit the vehicles of today.


The HYBRID-X: Sustainable Mobility for Modern Families



Produced by Toyota's European styling centre - ED2, the four-door, four-seat Hybrid X is designed to provide an environmentally-enhanced and sensory-rich driving experience. Offering sustainable mobility for modern families and further advancing the idea of zero emissions, the Hybrid X rewrites the vehicle design rule book.

The open concept interior and aerodynamic exterior come together in a roof made almost entirely of glass - supported by unique U-shaped A and C pillars that gives the appearance of an X. The effect is a blurring of the boundary between "inside" and "outside". Rear doors are hinged at the back to create a welcoming entrance, while the independent rear seats swivel to encourage passenger interaction.

In the car's interior, LED lighting that can be varied to create different moods, an interactive navigation system, driving information system, comfort control, and even a scent diffuser come together to offer a multi-sensory experience. It's the perfect way to combine ecological awareness and personal comfort.


The i-REAL: the Personal Mobility Vehicle



The i-REAL is the latest generation of Toyota's personal mobility vehicles. The single-person three-wheeled vehicle operates in two modes. The first is in low-speed, running upright with a shortened wheelbase to manoeuvre among pedestrians. The second is high-speed, with its wheelbase extended for a lower centre of gravity, and better stability and performance in vehicular traffic. Joysticks positioned on either side of the i-REAL's cockpit allow the driver to easily turn, speed up or apply braking.

The i-REAL interior features driver awareness systems to make it safe around people, as well as technologies that alert other vehicles and pedestrians to its presence. A series of perimeter monitoring sensors help detect the proximity of a person or object, while the i-REAL alerts the driver by emitting a noise and vibrating at the same time, and also alerts people around it of its movements through the use of light and sound warnings.

Just the latest in a series of innovative personal mobility designs that are helping Toyota to create a commuter vehicle that addresses many of the challenges facing those who live in crowded urban environments.


The Hi-CT



The brainchild of a team of innovative Japanese and European designers, the Hi-CT was designed around the idea of a "cool" and "enjoyable" car suited to the lifestyle of those who think young. This edgy urban vehicle features a new look unfettered by conventional vehicle size dimensions. Rather than the classic wide and low, the Hi-CT's proportions are centred towards the front and a deliberately "unbalanced" look.

The Hi-CT features plug-in hybrid technology which can be recharged from an external power source, giving it a greater driving range when running on its battery-powered motor. As well, it comes with an AC100V accessory socket that allows plugged-in devices to use stored electricity.

With the battery stored under the floor, the Hi-CT features a spacious and efficient cabin with high driver positioning for better visibility. There's even a removable rear trunk, and a deck where surfboards, bicycles and other equipment can be easily loaded.


The A-BAT



Toyota returns to its compact pick-up truck roots and takes them to a new level with the A-BAT concept vehicle. Developed jointly by the Toyota Motor Sales Advanced Product Strategy group and Calty, Toyota's research and design centre in Newport Beach, CA, the environmentally advanced A-BAT, with its hybrid powertrain, provides versatility, roominess and style while featuring good fuel economy, advanced functionality, manoeuvrability, and a durable package suitable for an active lifestyle.

The A-BAT is geared for a buyer group whose unique combination of lifestyle activities and transportation needs required a vehicle just as comfortable in the suburbs as on a country road. Whether hauling 4x8 sheets of plywood or loaded for a family camping trip, the A-BAT boasts a versatility and flexibility not before seen in a pickup truck.

The A-BAT rides on a unibody platform for car-like handling when navigating city streets and crowded parking lots, and smooth ride quality for highway trips and the everyday commute. In addition, its lightweight package coupled with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology is designed to deliver excellent fuel economy, while solar panels in the top surface of the instrument panel capture sunlight and convert it into energy.

The A-BAT's rugged exterior has been matched to a bright and vibrant interior with an urban-rugged feel with the inspiration coming from high-end mountain bike frames. This included using lightweight construction materials, such as: carbon fibre and aluminium for the instrument panel and console and seats for increased structural rigidity while reducing mass.

The A-BAT has a retractable portable navigation unit with a seven-inch diagonal screen and Wi-Fi internet. Other advanced features include a port for portable device assistant synchronization and a hard drive for digital music.


The IQ



Ultra-efficient, ultra-compact, and ultra-modern, the iQ concept car is designed to comfortably accommodate three adults plus a child (or luggage), while at the same time significantly reducing CO2 emissions. It also packs luxury features in a space less than three metres long, thanks to ultra-short overhangs and a cab-forward silhouette.

On the outside, the iQ stands out for its oversized, easy-entry doors, unique look, and extra-wide stance. Designed at ED2, the European Design Studio, the vehicle was created with metropolitan and suburban drivers in mind, with a minimal footprint and maximum usage of space.

Inside, the asymmetrical dashboard allows for side-to-side front seats. But the front passenger seat can also be pulled forward, making room for an extra adult and child in the back or extra luggage. The centre console features a sleek manta ray-shape containing the heating unit, while audio and navigation controls are integrated into the steering wheel, with the route-finding information projected in a heads-up display.

Combining dynamic and on-the-edge design with well-organized efficiency and an environmentally-friendly use of space and energy, the iQ may look futuristic but it's ready to take its place on city streets right now. In fact, Toyota has announced a production-ready version of the car set for Japan and Europe in 2009.


The FT-MV



With its bold, vibrant exterior, second-row seats with fully automatic ottomans, and elegant space under soft ambient lighting, the FT-MV (Future Toyota Mini-Van) is a glimpse into Toyota's minivan of the future.

The exterior features a sculpted shape designed to create square, angular lines broken by the pronounced grille, LED head- and tail lights, and bulging fender flares. With its side-window line and rounded wheel arch design, the FT-MV has a dynamic presence while maintaining the practical stance coveted by mini-van enthusiasts.

The FT-MV's leather-clad interior combines luxury and modern convenience, including individual captain seats with fully automatic ottomans, soft ambient lighting running along the roof, and a large LCD screen attached to the back of each of the front two rows. The feel is that of being a first-class passenger on an airplane.

Billed as Toyota's "next-generation minivan" that combines the elegant and upscale with the practical; don't be surprised if a production-version of the FT-MV comes to a dealer near you in the not-so-distant future.


The FT-HS Concept: A 21st Century Sports Car



Demonstrating that ecology and emotion can go hand-in-hand is what the FT-HS concept is all about. A pure sports car that includes a sophisticated hybrid powertrain, the FT-HS combines the hybrid virtues of ultra-low emissions and fuel efficiency while maintaining sports car essentials, such as a sleek profile, lightweight aero-dynamic materials, and an advanced high-output powertrain for revolutionary acceleration and optimal performance.

The FT-HS concept is a front-engine, rear-drive sports car with a projected zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range. A powerful V6, 3.5L-engine is coupled with a 21st century sports hybrid system with a target power output of approximately 400-horsepower. At a mid-priced market position, FT-HS would be a true "attainable exotic" with 21st Century performance.

From a design perspective, the theme of the FT-HS achieves sleek, taut surfaces in its exterior features - especially in the doors and body style. The roof has a distinctive scooped-out section designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and provide head room at the key areas. Made from carbon fiber Kevlar, the roof retracts to stow in the rear seat space.

Other exterior features include a speed-activated wing that elevates at high speed for additional stability and traction. The rear features a carbon fiber lower diffuser with integrated wide exhaust and carbon fiber wheels.

Interior features create a dedicated driver's cockpit where all the important functions and details are presented almost exclusively to the driver. Seating accommodates four and then coverts to a two-seater when the roof retracts.



The F3R Concept Vehicle: A Lounge Lizard's Minivan



Attention Lounge Lizards. The minivan is back. But the Toyota F3R Concept vehicle is like no minivan ever seen.

Among the unique features of the F3R concept vehicle is an avant-garde sofa at the back of the minivan to create that designer living-room atmosphere, plus a three-tier instrument panel with two modes, one for driving and one for lounging about. In the lounge mode, the panel turns an ambient blue. The idea is to make the car into a high tech sophisticated extension of the home.

Made to hold eight passengers comfortably, the California-designed hybrid vehicle also boasts two track-mounted flat-panel video screens controlled by a remote unit that docks in the F3R dash. To get really down and comfy, the passenger seat reclines into a bench while the middle seats split and fold to form, combined with the third seat, a lounge lizard sofa. Fibre-optic lighting panels in the seat sides provide just the right illumination for conversation, listening to music, or watching the latest movies.

For those with environmental concerns, the F3R's floor panels are made from recyclable Ecoresin, while the seats sport Mythos, a skin-friendly simulated leather that doesn't produce dioxin when burned.

From the outside, the F3R looks like anything but a minivan. Its tall, wedged body shape makes use of wide, dynamic shoulders for maximum volume. A set of sporty 22-inch wheels and wide performance tires sit on the extreme edges of the vehicle, giving it the look of a performance vehicle.


The Fine-X Concept Vehicle: Glimpsing The Future



The family car is undergoing a revolution-and the Toyota Fine-X concept vehicle leads the way, providing a glimpse into the future. Designed with "Vibrant Clarity" in mind, the four-seat minivan-style Fine-X features a number of revolutionary concepts including four-wheel independent drive control, enormous gull-wing doors, on-the-spot rotation, and a fuel cell hybrid powertrain.

One of the Fine-X's unusual features is the ability of each wheel to be steered independently, up to a 90 degree angle, thanks to in-wheel electric motors. Even more amazing is the vehicle's large-steering-angle steering mechanism, allowing it to rotate a complete 360 degrees on its own axis. This makes U-turns and slipping into tight parking spaces a breeze. Driving and parking is also made easier thanks to IT/ITS peripheral monitoring technology that provides the driver with a surround-around view of the vehicle.

The vehicle's interior gives off a glow of hospitality with its variable lighting intensity, making it both inviting and bright. Its power ''Welcome Seats'' move in and out of the car as the gull-wing doors open, allowing passengers to enter and exit comfortably. And it's roomy: while approximately the same exterior size as the Yaris, the Fine-X boasts as much cabin space as a Camry.

The hydrogen fuel cell and electric motor hybrid system is easy on the environment while delivering top of the line performance. As well, Toyota is working on the use of plant-based materials in constructing the vehicle's components. Because the source plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and because no additional CO2 is released even if the components are incinerated at the end of the vehicle's useful life, the vehicle will have a carbon-neutral profile.


The FT-SX Concept Vehicle : A Bold New Genre



Lower and wider than an SUV. Taller, more comfortable and more versatile than a sedan. Introducing Toyota's FT-SX concept vehicle, the very definition of a bold new genre for those looking beyond the traditional passenger car or SUV. Aside from its totally new silhouette and a wide, stable stance that is both sleek and imposing, the FT-SX features an innovative rear hatch five-door design, a large, multi-function glass roof, and a powerful V6 engine with all-wheel-drive on 21-inch wheels.

Visually stunning on the outside, with clean and taut surfaces accented by dual exhausts fully integrated into the full-width lower bumper, the FT-SX exudes luxury, comfort, utility and practicality on the inside. A look using natural woods, soft leathers and durable metals, and armrests integrated into the seats create an uncluttered living-room effect. As does the new sense of space defined by a "60/60" feeling for driver and front passenger: overlapping seat elements that create individual areas giving each the impression their space is dominant.

Just as revolutionary are the three opening options on the rear hatch. The upper glass hatch pivots up; the lower hatch pivots down; and the glass roof has two panels which slide towards the centre, not only creating a useful loading opening, but also doubling as a rear sunroof.

The A-Bat looks like a honda ridgeliner.. ugly