Toyota shows electric concepts at Tokyo show, but it may never build them

A sales space stuffed with idea automobiles is nothing new at an auto present. This yr on the Japan Mobility Present, although, Toyota referred to as its whole sales space an idea. The idea was “Discover Your Future,” and it was meant to indicate how electrical autos could be enjoyable and versatile in ways in which inside combustion autos cannot.

Toyota additionally highlighted an inside combustion car that provides much more flexibility than its ideas. One will go on sale in Asia within the subsequent few months, whereas the others might by no means see pavement.

The spotlight was a sharp-looking electrical sports activities automobile idea referred to as the FT-Se. Toyota did not present many particulars, but it surely described what the idea means for future manufacturing Toyota EVs.

Firm President and CEO Koji Sato mentioned the FT-Se tells a narrative of “our future life with battery EVs,” saying that the corporate believes “they don’t seem to be solely eco-friendly; electrical automobiles additionally supply their very own taste of driving enjoyable and automotive seasoning.”

Seemingly acknowledging that Toyota has trailed behind different automobile corporations, particularly electrical car startups, Sato mentioned the corporate can be “making battery EVs like solely a real carmaker can.” This, he mentioned, means “revisiting the elemental ideas of automobile making.”

His instance within the FT-Se was that the corporate may make a automobile with each a low middle of gravity and a spacious cabin. Whereas the glossy and low idea appears to be like like a rebirth of the MR2 sports activities automobile, Sato steered it might not have the inside compromises of earlier sports activities automobiles.

He saved speak of the thinner batteries that might assist make it attainable for Chief Branding Officer Simon Humphries on the Lexus convention later within the day. Humphries presented two concepts from that brand, which included one set for manufacturing in 2026.

These ideas showcased new large-size gigacasting strategies that would cut back car complexity. The LF-ZC additionally confirmed Toyota’s deliberate thinner battery packs which can be aiming for a spread determine greater than double the model’s present sub-500-km (round 300 miles) EVs.

However Sato described the necessity for the corporate to “make the primary parts a lot smaller and lighter and deploy our strengths as a carmaker to place them collectively in the very best package deal attainable.” By doing that, Sato mentioned, “the design, the driving really feel, and all the things else could be remodeled.”

Sato didn’t say something to point that the FT-Se idea may see manufacturing, however some prior hints add as much as make it attainable. The idea automobile bears a powerful resemblance to the Sports activities EV idea Toyota confirmed off in December of 2021. At that convention, then-President and CEO Akio Toyoda steered {that a} GR-branded sports activities EV was set to reach in 2026.

One of many objectives Toyoda set for that future manufacturing mannequin was to have the EV geared up with a guide transmission, together with a clutch pedal. He mentioned that it might produce “engine noises even if you cannot odor gasoline.” The FT-Se could possibly be that automobile.