Toyota to debut 2 production vehicles and 3 concepts at the 42nd tokyo motor show
- World premiere of the next generation front engined, rear-wheel drive sports car
- World premiere of AQUA - a compact, dedicated hybrid vehicle
- World premiere of Fun-Vii (Fun Vehicle interactive internet) concept
- World premiere of the FCV-R (Fuel Cell Vehicle — Reality and Revolution) concept
- World premiere of the FT-EV III (Future Toyota — Electric Vehicle III) concept
On stage, Toyota's much-anticipated sports car will make its debut. This compact, front engined, rear-wheel drive sports car reaffirms the joy of driving and the pleasure of motor vehicle ownership.
Also premiering is the Toyota AQUA1, a compact-class hybrid vehicle that aims to provide the joys of hybrid vehicle ownership -such as superior fuel efficiency, user friendliness and fun- at an affordable price.
The AQUA combines the features of a 5-seater compact car with hybrid drive to offer groundbreaking fuel efficiency of approximately 35 km/L (under the Japanese JC08 test cycle 40 km/L under the 10-15 test cycle).
3,995 mm long, the AQUA's stylish proportions and minimised height enhance its aerodynamic performance while still offering interior comfort and ample luggage capacity. The state-of-the-art, compact and lightweight hybrid system combines a 1.5-liter engine with a high-output motor to create the most efficient hybrid powertrain yet. Moreover the system has been packaged to give a low centre of gravity for outstanding handling, agile maneuverability, and enjoyable operation.
Following its launch in Japan, scheduled for late December 2011, the AQUA will be sequentially rolled out to other regions worldwide, except the European market.
Several concept vehicles will also be on display. The Fun-Vii (Fun Vehicle interactive internet) concept heralds Toyota's vision of a future where people, cars and society are linked.
Alongside the Japanese debut of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid - which best suits the current
need to meet CO2 emissions restrictions and the diversification of energy - two next-generation, eco-friendly concept vehicles will be revealed.
The FCV-R (Fuel Cell Vehicle — Reality and Revolution) concept is a 4,745 mm long, practical sedan-type vehicle fueled by hydrogen, a promising source of CO2 emission-free energy that can be produced from a variety of sources and can be easily stored and transported. This concept model represents the next step towards the commercial launch of a Toyota fuel cell vehicle by 2015.
With the fuel-cell unit located beneath the specially designed bodyshell, the vehicle can accommodate up to four passengers and boasts impressive luggage space. The fuel cell stack, with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tank, has been improved to provide a cruising distance of approximately 700 km (under the Japanese JC08 test cycle).
With the potential to replace gasoline-fuelled vehicles for shorter journeys, Electric Vehicles (EV) with zero CO2 emissions, are fundamental to the future of eco-mobility. The FT-EV III (Future Toyota — Electric Vehicle III) is a 4-seater electric vehicle concept with an ultra-compact length of 3,110 and lightweight packaging, suitable for short-distance trips.
Toyota is developing EV technology with the aim of launching a vehicle suitable for short-distance travel in 2012. Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, the FT-EV III achieves an estimated cruising range of 105 km on a fully charged battery (under the Japanese JC08 test cycle).
Separately from the motor show, at the nearby Mega Web center in Tokyo, Toyota will hold hands-on events giving visitors the opportunity to test drive some of the vehicles on display and experience future technologies.
Toyota will also create a Tokyo Motor Show portal site (http://www.toyota.co.jp) to stream information from the show along with virtual events introduced on the GAZOO Metapolis site (http://metapolis.toyota.co.jp).
1To be sold under the name "Prius c" outside Japan.