Toyota gears up for hybrid assault

TOKYO, Japan - Hot on the heels of the SA launach of its Auris hybrid, Japanese automaker Toyota has revealed a series of hybrid concept models.

Toyota will reveal a new compact hatchback hybrid and three concept cars at the 2011 Tokyo auto show.

The Aqua (also called the Prius C in some markets) is a compact hybrid vehicle and have a claimed fuel consumption of 35 km/l.

The hybrid system combines a 1.5-liter engine with a high-output motor to create an incredibly efficient powertrain.

Following its launch in Japan, scheduled for December 2011, the Aqua/Prius C will be sequentially rolled out to other regions worldwide, except the European market. Toyota SA is currently investigating the feasibility of widening the Prius range, however, this will not take place in the short term.

CONCEPT CARS

Based on the Toyota iQ, the FT-EV III (Future Toyota – Electric Vehicle III) is a four-seater electric vehicle concept. Toyota is developing EV technology with the aim of launching a vehicle suitable for short-distance travel in 2012.  Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, the FT-EV III achieves an estimated cruising range of 170 km on a fully charged battery (under the Japanese JC08 test cycle).

The FCV-R (Fuel Cell Vehicle – Reality and Revolution) concept, measuring 4.7m in length, is fuelled by hydrogen. This concept model represents the next step towards the commercial launch of a Toyota fuel cell vehicle by 2015.

With the fuel-cell unit located beneath the specially designed bodyshell, the vehicle can accommodate up to four passengers. The fuel cell stack, with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tank, has been improved to provide a cruising distance of 700km (under the Japanese JC08 test cycle).