Fine-X, The latest in Toyota's family of 'Fine' fuel cell show cars, the Fine-X is a small four-seat minivan concept with massive gullwing doors. It features a compact fuel cell hybrid powertrain, which drives electric motors in each of the four wheels.
Besides the exotic propulsion system, the Fine-X is also unusual in that each wheel can steer independently, through as much as 90 degrees, for extraordinary maneuverability. But the Fine-X's biggest party trick is that it can rotate on its own axis a full 360 degrees.
Though about the size of a Scion xA, the Fine-X boasts the cabin space of a Camry. The cabin, with flat floor and 'welcome seats' that move in and out of the car as the gullwing doors open, is roomy, bright and hi-tech. The exterior design reportedly provides cues to the new 2007 Corolla.
Estima hybrid, This is Toyota's second-generation Estima hybrid minivan in Japan. Its hybrid system marries a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 100 kW electric motor. A 50 kW motor driving the rear wheels provides four-wheel-drive capability.
Design-wise, it previews the sleek "one motion form" of the next Estima (America used to know this as the Previa) minivan. Inside, the armchair-style second row seats have built-in footrests and at the back, there's a power foldaway third row. This hybrid is due on sale in May 2006 in Japan.
i-Swing, You might suspect that Toyota is instigating a sexual revolution with its recent concepts, the vaguely phallic i-unit and free-loving i-swing, but the i-swing is merely the latest in a long line of wacko, single-seat personal vehicles, following the Pod (2001), the PM (2003), and the i-unit (2005). At low, walking-type speeds, the i-swing rides tall and upright on two wheels. When you're in more of a hurry, it sits down lower, stretching its low resistance urethane body out and riding on three wheels. It can also tilt through corners (like a Tokyo pizza delivery scooter) and lean back and do wheelies. The last time we came across a swinger that could stretch, lean back, and get down, Richard Simmons was on Jazzercize. Creepily, Toyota claims the i-swing also uses artificial intelligence communication to enable it "to grow" and learn the habits and preferences of its owner and store relevant data about him or her. If you're going to have a stalker for a vehicle, it may as well be liberated and fit.
Scion bB Concept, Toyota's first-generation bB (for Black Box) was a smash hit with young car buyers in Japan--and also in the USA, where it's sold as the Scion xB.
The small, boxy, utilitarian, anti-establishment feel of the bB was what helped make it popular. This new version keeps to the same basic formula, but for this show car, at least, the styling is softer (and more new-wave, BMW-like). With strobe lights and a nine-speaker sound system, the cabin is set up like a nightclub
Toyota FSC, Toyota describes the FSC as a new category crossover between a sedan and a minivan. About the size of a VW Passat wagon, the FSC is ordinarily a four-seater, with a roomy 'lounge feel cabin.' But it also has a clever, power-adjustable 3-stage foldaway third seat, which springs into action if you need to take up to six people.
No word on powertrain, platform, or production, as the FSC is a pure show car
Rav4, The 2007 Toyota RAV4 grows significantly and will now offer three-row seating. An available V6 will produce around 268 hp and make this one of the fastest Toyota vehicles since the Supra disappeared seven years ago. The RAV4 will go on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2006. Watch for more details in our live Tokyo show coverage.
Lexus LF-A,
The Lexus LF-A supercar concept makes another show appearance at Tokyo, and this time Lexus has announced that it is powered by a V-10 with more than 500 horsepower. Details are still scant, but count on a production version that looks a lot like this within two years.
The V-10 engine will displace less than 5.0 liters and may use a hybrid system to achieve the lofty power goal and increased efficiency. It's located in front because no Japanese automaker has built a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive supercar until this point, and Toyota wants to be the first to enter this segment.
The LF-A theoretically will compete with the Ferrari Scaglietti and the Aston Martin V-12 Vanquish S (or whatever supercars have replaced them by then), but it will have some homegrown competition as well; Honda is developing an NSX successor for 2008 or 2009 with a new mid-mounted V-10.
Lexus LF-Sh, Since the LF-Sh concept has a V-8 hybrid powertrain, and since Toyota is introducing a hybrid version of the GS, called the GS450h, next spring, it's logical to expect a hybrid version of the LS as well, which likely will be called the LS600h. Toyota's hybrid efforts are now following two paths: Toyota hybrid vehicles will emphasize efficiency and fuel economy, while Lexus hybrids will concentrate more on performance than on ultimate fuel efficiency. All Lexus hybrid vehicles will become the top trim levels within their respective lineups. The LS600h, then, likely could rival competitors' twelve-cylinder models in performance while still being green enough to make its owners think they're not contributing to global warming.
Lexus GS450h,
Lexus is adding another weapon to their green-leaning arsenal as they unveil the GS450h sedan, scheduled to reach dealerships in the spring of 2006. It joins Lexus's own RX400h SUV as the only luxury vehicles to offer the improved fuel economy and eco-friendliness of a hybrid powertrain. Lexus also touts the GS450h as the first rear-wheel-drive car to receive the hybrid treatment.
The new sedan will be powered by an electric motor mated to a 3.5-liter V-6 and it should boast the same sporting dynamics as the more plebian GS. The powertrain was developed exclusively for this car with athleticism in mind. Lexus claims that the hybrid system's performance will match that of a 4.5-liter V-8--"it will produce substantially more than 300 hp and achieve 0-60 mph in well under six seconds"--while returning gas mileage that equals that of a typical 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Combined fuel economy will likely fall somewhere in the high twenties.
Like the RX hybrid, the GS450h represents the top-of-the-line within its own model range and, as such, will boast more standard equipment than non-green versions. Lexus says, however, that since the GS is already "extremely well-equipped," the difference in spec will be less than that between the RX330 and RX400h. Expect a price premium of at least $5000-$6000 over similarly outfitted, non-hybrid GS430s.
Lexus plans to market the GS hybrid not on its environmentally friendly powertrain, but rather its high-performance characteristics, and says that the prospect of spending less time--not money--at the pump will be what draws buyers to the GS450h.
the Bb concept looks like the bastard child of a current Xb and PT Cruiser.
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