Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, Toyota, Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo 2007 Preview: Toyota's "environmentally considerate" 1/X
Click for a high-res gallery of the Toyota 1/x
Adjectives like lightweight, mid-engine and rear wheel drive usually equal a performance car. In the case of the Toyota 1/X concept, that would be an apt description, but not in the traditional sense of the word. Pronounced 1/Xth and weighing just 926 lbs., the car is literally a third of the weight of Toyota's current green car standard, the Prius. Featuring a 500cc engine plus hybrid electric motor with plug-in capability, the acceleration is probably good enough, while the fuel mileage and electric-only cruising range are likely superb. The low weight is made possible by the extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic -- the same thing that race cars are molded from. Unfortunately, no real specifications are provided, so we don't know what kind of battery is used, how long the car can go on a charge or what the average fuel mileage equivalent might be. But, the 1/X can be plugged into an outlet and seat four occupants, so it's got the green commuter car requirements on straight lock-down.
The styling of the vehicle is very... um, distinctive, and like the Prius, the 1/X won't be mistaken for anything else. Hey, it's worked for Toyota before, so why not try it again?
Gallery: Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota 1/x
[Source: Toyota via Autoblog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 4:16PM (10/10/2007)
I for one love it. Big enough to seat 4, with a bit of a trunk. If the drive train is done well, I would think a 500cc motor could produce all the power needed to keep up with battery draw in such a light and slippery vehicle; maybe 30hp. With an electric motor (or motors) capable of putting out something like 60hp (if a parallel hybrid) or 80hp (if a series hybrid) it would get on down the road just fine.
It's a bit like a baby brother to the Prius, designed in the era where people are eager to drive a hybrid rather than suspicious of these new-fangled electro-gizmos.
Get rid of those silly arches over the rear wheels to get the cD as low as practical, and cover over some of that damn sun-pointing glass (are they trying to cook us alive these days? How much do you look up in your car?) and you have the No-Motorcycle-License-Required version of the Aptera (my current favorite).
I might still opt for the Aptera, because it just takes the same design principles that much farther, and as people have said if you park your Aptera next to a Ferrari, nobody will even SEE the Ferrari, but that part's just the residual teenage boy in me.
Reply
Phil L. 1:18PM (10/11/2007)
First thought:
Hey! They stole my ping-pong ball collection!
Some interesting ideas in this design. While I appreciate the unusual structure, I hope someone at least thought a little about whether this approach could pass current crash tests, etc. Otherwise it will merely be another concept car with no future.
Reply
Ernie 5:24PM (11/07/2007)
Yes boys and girls, it's a concept car. Of course it looks wierd. Because if your concept car doesn't look wildly futuristic, then it's not a concept.
For example, behold the Ford Probe from concept to release:
http://www.aus-cartalk.com/probe/history.htm
Reply