Concept Vehicles

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 CS&S is a 4-wheel-drive mid-engine 2+2 sports car. Employing Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, an electric motor drives the front wheels, while a gas engine and electric motor in combination drive the rear. CS&S also unveils "Toyota Space Touch," where the driver selects functions by "touching" holographic projections.

The essential Toyota values of roominess, style and environmentally advanced performance come together in a dynamic new way in the F3R.

The F3R's three-row seating is useful and versatile. Up front, the driver's seat reclines and swivels, and the passenger seat reclines to form a comfortable chaise. In the middle, the right and center sections of the 40/20/40 second-row seats fold into the floor, and the left-hand seat reclines fully to form an avant-garde sofa in the third row.

To enhance the F3R's utility, seating in transport mode is stadium-style with each row just a little higher than the row in front. The two track-mounted flat-panel video screens allow the vehicle's occupants to enjoy movies or games whenever they want in complete comfort.

The design makes use of environmentally sensitive materials, in keeping with the theme suggested by the Hybrid Synergy Drive® badging on the vehicle. These materials include floor panels made from Ecoresin, a specially formulated resin that can be recycled; and a simulated-leather seating material called Mythos that, unlike most plastics, does not produce the harmful chemical dioxin when burned.

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 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.

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.