Video: Toyota unveils FT-EV concept, details plug-in Prius, you won't see either for awhile

While we were living large at CES in Las Vegas yesterday, Toyota's people were up in Detroit, working hard to amp up the crowd at the North American International Auto Show. The world's largest auto maker fulfilled promises by giving more information about an upcoming electric car, showing off a concept called the FT-EV. Based on the iQ ultra-compact, which is currently available in Japan in petrol-powered guise, the battery version has a range of just 50 miles, making it suitable only for those living in those most urban of suburbs. Hopefully it gains a bit more stamina before it (or something similar) goes into production in 2012. Toyota also gave some further information about its impending plug-in Prius, indicating that before the end of the year it will lease 500 prototypes to consumers to act as mobile beta testers prior to the full release of the car. Only 150 of those will be available in the States, though, so you can go ahead and leave "Install extra outlet in garage" low on your to-do list for another year or so

[Sublimewulf @ Jan 11th 2009 10:11PM]

Toyota IQ anyone?

[Sublimewulf @ Jan 11th 2009 10:16PM]

Hit this link up to compare: http://s2.desktopmachine.com/pics/Toyota_iQ_71_1600x1200.jpg

[Sublimewulf @ Jan 11th 2009 10:22PM]

Read fail, my bad

[P.C. WeePeeEssThree60 @ Jan 11th 2009 10:56PM]

aww so cute..looks like a RC car..
I'd get it if claws come out the tires like The Animal.

The Animal.....The Animal
Nothing can stop...
Budda Bum Bum Bum ....
The ANIMAL!!!!.........The ANIMAL!!!!

[moon1234 @ Jan 12th 2009 4:54PM]

New electric minivan from Chrysler next year for my family. Chrysler and GM seem to be the furthest along with their true EV plans. Chrysler is the ONLY company that has most of their fleet in line for EV makeovers. It is impressive to see their Mini-vans, Jeeps sports car and now a slmmed down 300c (200c) all finished and drivable by testers.

I really hope they survive. A 40 mile electric range with extra 400 miles on gas generator is just what my family needs. Everything else is too small or has too short of a range.

[Ray @ Jan 11th 2009 10:13PM]

Can someone explain why this car is designed so hideously? Do they even try to make electric cars appealing any more?

[paulus @ Jan 11th 2009 10:28PM]

For the most part it's for reasons of aerodynamics... anyone else have other thoughts?

[kesherz @ Jan 11th 2009 10:49PM]

That's a standard design for city cars in Europe and other parts of the world.

[Dave Chappelle @ Jan 11th 2009 10:56PM]

They made electric cars appealing at some stage?

This is a joke of a car and 2012 is another joke. Why would i care about a GOD DAMNED CAR that is going to be released in 2012? when the same technology existed in the 90's? see: 'who killed the electric car'. This news is so bad that i would be more excited if Blizzard said they will release a new game by 2012.

[Neil @ Jan 11th 2009 11:26PM]

the battery can carry that hunk of metal a certain distance, to make a more "eye-pleasing" vehicle, you'd need more metal, the more metal, the less distance the battery can carry it. therefore making the car completely useless.

in the end, the car is useless to the enviornment, just like hybrids...
i mean, we're polluting less, yeah, but what happens to the batteries in those hybrids when we have to dispose of them?

[Temple @ Jan 11th 2009 11:51PM]

Small = lightweight = less energy used. Doesn't need a long hood because it doesn't have an engine (it has motors), keeping it small means it can get around an urban environment better (which is what its designed to do) and keeps weight low. Longer traveling distance for the electric car. Basing it off the Toyota iQ also makes sure it doesn't cost six-figures like the Tesla. It ain't going to look like a Ford Explorer that's for sure.

Personally, I think the design actually looks great, and it seats four. Its incredibly efficient packaging.

[Neil @ Jan 12th 2009 12:02AM]

he totally just restated what i said. lol.

[ant @ Jan 12th 2009 1:20PM]

this is japanese version of mini cooper.

[Steve @ Jan 11th 2009 10:20PM]

Who the hell designed this horror of a car!?

[Sublimewulf @ Jan 11th 2009 10:21PM]

nvm, read fail

[Bryan @ Jan 11th 2009 10:29PM]

Besides the front bumper flare near the wheel, that car looks pretty sweet. Gotta love the two seaters!

[cros13 @ Jan 11th 2009 11:09PM]

Actually, The IQ is a four-seater. Though you'ld be surprised how comfortable many small cars like this are.
The old Nissan Micra was much smaller than this and I've seen it fit 5 6'5 rugby players on occasion.

[Bryan @ Jan 11th 2009 11:21PM]

Crazy! Maybe I shoulda watched the video.

I would just take out the back seat anyways and toss a few subs back there for good measure. :)

[cros13 @ Jan 11th 2009 11:44PM]

Yep,

I checked the video. you can see the headrests of the back seats through the rear window.

[Noel Bourke @ Jan 11th 2009 10:29PM]

The IQ is also available in most european markets, not just japan.

[Robert @ Jan 11th 2009 10:32PM]

why are their cars becoming more and more hideous, look out detroit, godzilla coming ur way, quick DODGE GRAB UR DURANGO AND RUN IT OVER!!!! LOL...

[Skazer @ Jan 11th 2009 10:41PM]

Calm down kids. It's called a concept model. The production model will likely look much more conservative.

[Greg @ Jan 12th 2009 11:49AM]

haha production car eh? I wish...

[kesherz @ Jan 11th 2009 10:54PM]

I'm guessing none of the people complaining ever watched Top Gear. This is a fairly bog-standard "city car" design in Europe.

[TIm @ Jan 11th 2009 11:15PM]

Right on Dave Chappelle!

50 miles???? WTF? Did not the Toyota RAV4 EV go at least 100 miles on nickle metal hydried ( I know that is spelled wrong) batteries back in the 90's? As did the EV1? I think even on lead-acid batteries, they could go 50 miles...almost two decades ago!

This pisses me off. The reason Detroit does not wan these 100% EV cars on the road is that they make no money on after market parts and they don't know how to adapt.

Go watch "Who Killed the Electric Car" and you will know the truth!

[Sahil Malik @ Jan 11th 2009 11:21PM]

50 miles = 25 miles round trip distance.
Real World Usage 20 miles round trip.
After 2 years of usage, 10 miles round trip.
To top it all, you have to drive a car that looks like a frikkin' toad.
Seriously, this car is so ugly, it should come with a free pair of crocs.

and 2012? Where is my flying saucer dammit!

[cros13 @ Jan 12th 2009 8:54AM]

The UK Toyota IQ Site:
http://tinyurl.com/84r5j9

[Noel Bourke @ Jan 11th 2009 11:38PM]

The IQ is exempt from road tax in the UK as it's CO2 emissions are under 100g/km

Source:

Toyota.co.uk

[Shugg @ Jan 12th 2009 12:27AM]

USA will never 100% accept electric till gas is $6+ dollars gallon for over. 1-2 year period,.

[BigD145 @ Jan 12th 2009 1:10AM]

I don't mind the looks, but stop with the "prototypes" and "lease only" already. Build something en masse and sell it.

[purplecomet84 @ Jan 12th 2009 1:27AM]

I second watching "Who Killed The Electric Car?" Put it on your Netflix queue now. Then you will know that BETTER technology existed in 1996. Yes, Nineteen Ninety-six.

How about trying something revolutionary.

Also... how long until they take those 150 prototype cars, rip them out of the driver's hands and put them in crushing/shredding machines out in redneck country? 2013... 2014?

[matt630 @ Jan 12th 2009 4:15AM]

i think the people that designed the looks are the same people who did microsoft songsmith. get a motorcycle if you want something small and gets good mpg. its just as safe, probably better for the environment, same cargo space and with a motorcycle you could at least have enough torque and power to get on an onramp.

[jmann1 @ Jan 12th 2009 5:28AM]

The European version is sold as the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1. It's been out for a couple of years already. The front looks a little different on each model (and they look a lot better than the one pictured here!). It's sold in 3-door and 5-door hatchback versions. Manufactured at the Toyota plant in the Czech Republic.

It gets 55 mpg (or 5.5 liters/100km) and has emissions on par with a hybrid due to the small 1-liter engine (which is just peppy enough for the car's size). Also very roomy inside for a small car. Great little city car!!

(I drive the Peugeot 107)

[ryaninc @ Jan 12th 2009 10:02AM]

Fifty miles on a charge doesn't sound like much, but the vast majority of us only drive 5, 10 or 15 miles to work and back every day. So this would be excellent for daily driving, and then keep a regular car for longer trips. The thought of never buying gas again, regardless of how much or little it costs, is sure appealing.

[rcappo @ Jan 12th 2009 11:01AM]

Everything I do around town is less than 8 miles away. And there are so many stoplights and traffic jams that my car gets 18-22mpg in the city, but 40mpg when going 55mph on the highway.

I would only need to buy gas to drive to my parents house a few times a year.

[sniperaruba @ Jan 12th 2009 10:18AM]

When will this actually happen? It's like every week we see stories like this, they come and go! But when will a car company actually develop a production vehicle that will trully revolutionize the industry forever....it's time. Come on....someone, anyone, please drive this one out of the park!

[absinthe party @ Jan 12th 2009 10:46AM]

I'm still holding out for someone to perfect and implement vacuum travel tube technology.

[mph66 @ Jan 12th 2009 5:03PM]

If the computer industry evolved at the rate the auto industry evolves and innovates, we'd all still be using 486 MMX 'puters. Macs would not exist [troll]. I want one of these yesterday. Yes, they're ugly, but I suspect many of the posters here still live with mummy (or the tree fort in the back yard) and don't have actual bills to pay. If you do have to make your way in this economy, one of these cars would make a significant difference in your budget each month.

[Alex K @ Jan 14th 2009 2:28PM]

Most interesting Point is the Price. I think more than 16000 bucks. But many citys have no
infrastructure to load the car.

[ZZZZZZZZZZZZ @ Jan 14th 2009 9:04PM]

Anyway why do they have to make the ugliest looking cars. Like the prius and now this, i WOULD NEVER WANT TO BUY A CAR SHAPED LIKE THAT.