Toyota To Display Future Mobility In Tokyo

On 20th November, five new Toyota vehicle concepts will make their world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show including the latest development of the Fuel Cell Vehicle(FCV) concept. The line-up consists of the work being done by Toyota to make a positive impact in society by designing and building ever-better cars that go beyond what people expect from a car. The Toyota FCV Concept will be revealed for the first time at Tokyo. It previews the fuel cell vehicle Toyota plans to launch around 2015 as a pioneer in the development of hydrogen-powered cars. The car will have a range of at least 300 miles (500km) on a full tank and a refuelling time of around three minutes, which is approximately the same as for a petrol or diesel vehicle.

OneShift Editorial Team

06 Nov 2013

The powertrain features Toyota’s proprietary compact and lightweight fuel cell stack and a pair of high-pressure (70mPa) hydrogen tanks, located beneath the specially designed body. This compact packaging means the FCV can carry up to four occupants.

Toyota has been able to make the motor smaller and reduce the number of fuel cells, leading to a system that is more compact overall, yet delivers better performance at a reduced cost. A fully fuelled vehicle can provide enough electricity – 10kW/h – to power an average Japanese family home for a week. The FCV measures 4,870mm long, 1,810mm wide and 1,535mm high and the wheelbase is 2,780mm.

Another concept is the FV2 which is designed to capture the spirit of Toyota's fun-to drive philosophy, while harnessing advanced future vehicle technologies to form stronger physical and emotional connections with the driver.

The FV2 does not have a steering wheel. Instead, it is operated by the driver shifting his/her body intuitively to move the vehicle forwards or back, left or right. It also uses intelligent transport system technology to connect with other vehicles nearby and highway infrastructure to capture safety information, for example giving advance warning of vehicles in blind spots or at junctions. The vehicle uses voice and image recognition to determine the driver’s mood; it can use accumulated driving history to suggest destinations; and can present driving skills information to assist the driver. An augmented reality (AR) display can be presented on the windscreen and the body colour and exterior display can be changed at will.

The Tokyo motor show will mark the public debut of Toyota’s new JPN Taxi Concept, a next-generation model that focuses on Japanese-style hospitality and livening up the city streets. It’s designed for easy passenger access with large, electric doors and a low, flat floor. The open cabin can seat five.

Toyota will also unveil new concepts for Voxy and Noah, two established seven-seat compact MPV models for the Japanese market. Production versions based on these concepts are due for launch early in 2014. It will also show the Aqua G Sports, a sports conversion of the Aqua hybrid supermini that has been tuned by GAZOO Racing, and the i-Road personal mobility vehicle.

Credits: Oneshift News Team