Toyota Reveals Dedicated Compact Hybrid FT-CH

The hood of the LF-CH is longer. The roof profile is very similar to FT-CH.

 

After reading the whole text of the presentation I realized that the FT-CH was just the 'prop'. It was the visual counterpoint to the real message from Toyota this morning.

Right from the beginning the real purpose of this presentation was stated:

The FT-CH concept is simply an example of the direction to which Toyota has committed its resources. Electrification...and pretty damn soon...is the future because things are changing faster than one might realize.

This presentation IMO is multilayered in that it's addressed to a number of audiences.
Investors; this is our direction in the intermediate term, wanna come along?
Analysts; we are committing ourselves to remaining viable no matter what economic and political events might be presented to us
Competition; as the leading vehicle maker in the world we are going this way ===> You might want to look at your own plans.
Public; be flexible and be prepared, you might not like what happens in the next decade or two. We, Toyota, will have options for you.

Oh, BTW, this bright vehicle next to me might make it to showrooms pretty soon.

 

nice i hope this wel become real

 

Some are reporting that this is a plug-in hybrid ($22,000) to compete with the Volt. It is a 4 seater like the Volt. Hmmm..

Nothing in the press release, picture and video do not indicate it is a plug-in.

 

I doubt Toyota knows whether its a plug in or not right now. It is scheduled for release at the same time as the prius plug in, and I would expect that decision to be based on cost of batteries and the outcome of the current fleet tests.

This is a rather boring anoucement. There are not many details at all. For those that care, this is not an insight killer since the insight killed itself. This is targeted toward the fit/civic regular and hybrid. I doubt that they will be targeting 60 mpg unless there is at least a small plug in. I would be suprised if those seats and wheels make production.

 

I know we are dealing with a concept, so I think there will probably be a significant difference between what we see here and what reaches the market.

I love the "idea", I like the idea of a smaller, more sports car like Hybrid. But then I think you inplant different expectations of performance and if you can't provide them you could have people disappointed. I think you can present the current Prius, as more of an all purpose family type of vehicle and support the idea of a quiet, smooth ride, which HSD does provide. People looking at a vehicle with those styling ques are going to expect a different kind of performance. Can HSD, -Toyota create a Hybrid that provides enough of the driving qualities that I think people looking at a small sporty vehicle would want? I'm not saying Yes, or No, I'm really curious. Lighter, smaller, more refined....it will be interesting.

Beyond that, I know we are dealing with concept, and also it is that "green" color, but with the headlights back against the windshield and the aerodynamic front...my first reaction to the styling is "Bull Frog". It looks very amphibious to me. I'd want to see one in person, but in pictures, I'd of called it the Toyota Bull Frog. Not so much from the side but from the front and rear it reminds me of a frog.

As far as the interior, again, I know it's conceptual but the white plastics look cheap to me. The seats remind me of the cheap summer patio chairs you can buy at drug stores. I don't like it. I hope that is more concept than ultimate reality.

 

No exhaust pipe(s). The exhaust should come out from those 8-bit grills as an aero turbulence diffuser.

 

Great technology - but am I the only one that thinks it looks like a dorkmobile?

 

Meh, unfortunately like the Volt, and the 2010 Prius concept... and many others... it is not going to look this cool. They have to send it throught he strainer first to see how boring they can get the car to, so as not to scare the people looking in the windows. ROFL

 

Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

That said, there's more to FT-CH than "just a prop".

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

do not know, but rest assured if you want company you just have to head over to the GM blog.

Personally, I like it. A lot

 

The FT-CH is a dorky version of the Hybrid X concept:

That would be a car to kill for... or sell your first-born.

Toyota, so what's with going only half way?

 

Toyota has all the bases covered.

- Pure EV (FT-EV)
- Plugin HV (Prius PHV)
- Best selling mid-size HV (Prius)
- Affordable compact high MPG HV (FT-CH)
- Sporty HV (FT-HS)
- Natural Gas HV (Camry CNG-HV)
- Hydrogen HV (FCHV)

More including Diesel HV are mentioned on the map to the "Ultimate eco-car".

 

biting tong ... must ... not ... blast ... FCHV's ....
(whew!) that was close

 

Wow, I didn't think you were going to make it!

I want my CNG-HV now! Who can argue against filling up at home or at fuel stations (eventually, only a few stations supply natural gas now). The technology is there, and for now at least, natural gas is cheaper than gasoline, and doesn't feed money into unfriendly countries.

 

I would trade my 2010 straight up for this vehicle

 

I still think it looks like frog, but not a dorky frog, a very, very cool frog.