Toyota Reveals Dedicated Compact Hybrid FT-CH

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Jan 11, 2010.

  • by Danny, Jan 11, 2010 at 10:27 AM
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    Toyota today revealed the FT-CH compact hybrid concept in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. This compact hybrid concept provides a hybrid model that "Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for," according to Toyota Motor Sales president Jim Lentz.

    According to Toyota's press release, 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.

    Designed at Toyota's European Design and Development center in Nice, France, the concept has a European flair to it and shares many design elements with the Prius and the sub-compact iQ. Compared to Prius, it is 22 inches shorter in overall length, yet loses less than an inch in overall width. In spite of its compact external dimensions, Toyota says the FT-CH was designed for maximum passenger comfort and interior roominess, with "an imaginative sense of style".

    Toyota is looking to target a younger, less-affluent buyer demographic with the FT-CH with its lower price point. Toyota was able to keep the vehicle lower in total weight than the Prius and says that it's "even more fuel efficient" without providing any specifics.

    The FT-CH concept looks much less "space-age" than some of Toyota's other concepts. I believe part of the reason for that is that they plan to move this vehicle into production sometime in 2011 for a 2012 model year launch. With its eye-catching good looks and Prius-like versatility, Toyota is looking at a winner in the first sibling to the Prius.
    Photo Album
    [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] [IMG]
    View more photos in the FT-CH Concept photo album.
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Comments

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Jan 11, 2010.

  1. spwolf
    so i guess only interesting thing here is that this is Yaris hatch sized vehicle that due to large space savings from iQ, has cabin lenght of Corolla/Auris hatch.
  2. DeadPhish
    I think that it's a really good design by the Nice team.
  3. Danny
    Looks like Edmunds was waaaaayyyy off :)
  4. usbseawolf2000
    [IMG]
    [IMG]

    Rear visibility should be much better as the back window is big without a horizontal bar.
  5. usbseawolf2000
    [IMG]

    Inspired by the pixelized 8-bit graphic.
  6. bwilson4web
    Can we get in another color?? (Too many years in the other green, Marine Corps!)

    Bob Wilson
  7. usbseawolf2000
    Is it the Toyota Auris? So this car may be based on the Auris platform.
  8. Rhino
    The silver car. That's not a Prius right? It looks too conventional. The green car looks better.
  9. ken1784
    So, the Toyota FT-CH is modified (0.4 meter shorter) version of Lexus LF-Ch shown at Frankfurt last September.
    Lexus LF-Ch
    It is little strange to me that this Detroit (for NA market) version is shorter than the Frankfurt (for EU) version.

    Ken@Japan

    [IMG]
  10. Mike Dimmick
    That's a current Yaris. By the time anything like this concept is produced - if ever - it will probably be on the next-generation Yaris platform, going by wheelbase and approximate dimensions.

    However, Toyota's definition of 'platform' seems to be quite flexible. Half of Toyota USA's lineup is on the same 'platform' if you believe TMS marketing. When you get down to the model codes, the Prius has always been a platform of its own, though sharing engine blocks with other models.

    The Auris is a Corolla, by model code, though somewhat shorter than the sedan versions. The Auris HSD 'concept' - a lot less conceptual than this - at Frankfurt was slated to have the 3G Prius powertrain in the Corolla chassis. It had a facelift compared to the currently-sold model but a lot of the sheet metal (e.g. doors) was the same.
  11. Mike Dimmick
    I think you're just reading too much into the 'CH' designation. It just means 'Compact Hybrid'. Last year Toyota showed an iQ-based electric vehicle named 'FT-EV', is this related to that as well?
  12. Danny
    1 people like this.
  13. nerfer
    I like this car, but it's still pretty space-agey, IMO. Look at that dash, the front turn-signals, the brake lights, and where the heck are the rear turn-signals? Also, I really doubt those huge wheels will make it into production, but those are always the last to change (easy to swap out for production). I would like to see those seats make it to production - less weight, space, and reduces air-conditioning need (takes a lot of A/C to compensate for all that padded insulation pressed against your back on conventional seats). Side-impact airbags would have to be mounted to the frame however.

    I thought I had seen something earlier about 80 mpg range (using EPA testing), but I can't recall where.
  14. spwolf
    i dont know what made you conclude that, it is clearly based on next generation Yaris platform, which uses iQ space saving techniques to create bigger cabin and smaller overhangs.
  15. Danny
    Pretty nice little video here with a cameo at the end:

    3 people like this.
  16. usbseawolf2000
    Thanks. I see the rear door handles are hidden.
  17. ken1784
    I believe we'll know which platform Toyota uses on the FT-CH.

    B platform: Vitz(JP)/Yaris/IQ
    new MC platform: Auris/Matrix/Scion xB/Gen3 Prius/HS250h/SAI

    Ken@Japan
  18. usbseawolf2000
    Very cool and high tech! It does not look much smaller than the Prius.

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