2010 Detroit Auto Show: Toyota FT-CH Concept
By Andrew C., 26 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
Toyota FT-CH Concept
Toyota revealed today at the Detroit Auto Show the FT-CH Concept, a new hybrid vehicle designed especially for urban use. The new concept is with 560mm shorter than the current Prius and could be a preview for the long-rumoured Toyota Prius Coupe which will be built to take on cars such as the upcoming Honda CR-Z which will make its official debut at this year's Detroit Show. The FT-CH was designed by the Toyota ED2 design studio in Nice and aims at a younger audience than the traditional Prius buyer. Also, the car is much ligher and more efficient comparing it to the 2010 Toyota Prius. Even the price will be lower comparing it to the Prius. Toyota confirmed today in Detriot that it intends to bring an all-electric car to market by 2012 and a fuel-cell vehicle by 2015.
Press release: "Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A, Inc., today unveiled the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The FT-CH is a concept that would address Toyota's stated strategy to offer a wider variety of conventional hybrid choices to its customers, as it begins to introduce plug-in hybrids (PHVs) and battery electrics (BEVs) in model year 2012, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCHVs) in 2015 in global markets. "Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply," said Jim Lentz, TMS president. "A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid." The CH stands for compact hybrid as in compact class and it's a concept that can best be defined by comparing it with the mid-size class Prius. The FT-CH captures the spirit and functionality of a car that thrives in the inner-city environment; sized right to be nimble, responsive and maneuverable. "It's a package Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for," added Lentz. The FT-CH was styled at Toyota's European Design and Development center in Nice, France.
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