Toyota's president unveiled a futuristic concept car resembling a giant smartphone to demonstrate how Japan's top automaker is trying to take the lead in technology at the upcoming Tokyo auto show. Toyota Motor Corp will also be showing an electric vehicle, set for launch next year, and a tiny version of the hit Prius gas-electric hybrid at the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public this weekend.
But the automaker's president, Akio Toyoda, chose to focus on the experimental Fun-Vii, which he called "a smartphone on four wheels" at Monday's preview of what Toyota is displaying at the show. The car works like a personal computer and allows drivers to connect with dealers and others with a tap of a touch-panel door.
"A car must appeal to our emotions," Toyoda said, using the Japanese term "waku waku doki doki," referring to a heart aflutter with anticipation. Toyota's booth will be a major attraction at the biannual Tokyo exhibition for the auto industry. Toyota said the Fun Vii was an example of what might be in the works in "20XX," giving no dates.
The Tokyo show has been scaled back in recent years as US and European automakers increasingly look to China and other places where growth potential is greater. US automaker Ford Motor Co isn't even taking part in the show. Toyota's electric vehicle FT-EV III, still a concept or test model, doesn't have a price yet, but is designed for short trips such as grocery shopping and work commutes, running 105 kilometers (65 miles) on one full charge.
The new small hybrid will be named Aqua in Japan, where it goes on sale next month. The forecast of demand for new passenger cars in Japan this year has been cut to 3.58 million vehicles from an earlier 3.78 million by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Toru Hatano, auto analyst for IHS Automotive in Tokyo, believes fuel efficient hybrid models will be popular with Japanese consumers, and Toyota has an edge. Toyota has sold more than 3.4 million hybrids world-wide so far. Honda Motor Co, which has also been aggressive with hybrid technology, has sold 770,000 hybrids world-wide. Toyota is also premiering a fuel-cell concept vehicle, FCV-R, at the show.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.