[TMS] Toyota: EVs for Short Distance, FCVs for Long Distance

Oct 23, 2009 11:59 Tatsuhiko Hayashi, Nikkei Automotive Technology

"We are now entering the era of reinventing cars, and we have been preparing for it step by step," said Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corp, at Tokyo Motor Show 2009.

At the exhibition site, he introduced the company's hybrid vehicle, plug-in hybrid vehicle, fuel-cell vehicle (FCV), etc.

As its electric vehicle (EV), Toyota showcased the "FT-EVII," whose body is smaller than its "iQ" mini car. It is a four-seat vehicle with a cruising range of more than 90km. Also, the company exhibited the "FCHV-adv" fuel-cell car and the "Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept," which it defines as "an optimal vehicle for the foreseeable future."

Toyota, which is currently expanding the variety of its hybrid vehicles, showed off the new "SAI" hybrid sedan and the "Lexus LF-Ch" concept car at the exhibition.

"I think a variety of cars will coexist in the future," Toyoda said. "But, in the long run, consumers will use electric vehicles mainly for short-distance driving and fuel-cell vehicles mainly for long-distance driving."

He also said that Toyota has to put stress on the "taste of car" as an automaker and it is necessary not only to achieve high mileages but to develop sports cars that make drivers feel refreshed.

This time, the company exhibited two sports cars. One is the "FT-86 Concept," which was co-developed with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd and announced under the Toyota brand. It is equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated horizontally-opposed engine that drives the rear wheels.

The FT-86 Concept is a four-seater that measures 4,160 (L) x 1,760 (W) x 1,260mm (H), and its wheelbase is 2,570mm.

"We are now preparing to release it as early as possible," Toyoda said.

Under the Lexus brand, Toyota unveiled the "LF-A," which features a 4.8-liter V-type ten-cylinder engine and is planned to be priced at about ¥37.5 million (approx US$410,419). It will be released at the end of 2010 in a limited number of 500 worldwide.

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