Did Toyota Abandon Style For Mileage With FT-Bh Concept?

Did Toyota Abandon Style For Mileage With FT-Bh Concept?
Toyota is exploring how far it can push the boundaries of fuel efficiency with a car that previews the next-generation Yaris. 
 
The company has revealed the FT-Bh concept, and advanced vehicles project manager Koji Makino told Auto Express: “I hate exotic materials. Do you buy your Yaris or Aygo in carbon fibre? No: these materials make cars too expensive.”
 
Extremely low weight, great aerodynamics and a hybrid engine allow this four-seater to claim 134.5mpg and 49g/km CO2 emissions. Add plug-in capability and the CO2 figure drops to only 19g/km.
 
The production FT-Bh has a proposed retail price of £15,000 and will be made of steel. The target weight is 768kg – that’s 270kg less than a Yaris – and the 1.0-litre, two-cylinder petrol engine weighs only 60kg.

 

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AlleVierAlleVier - 3/28/2012 6:34:34 PM
+2 Boost
Are you out of your mind, 009. That car is brimming with style. Not going to be to everybody's taste, of course, but definitely not lacking in style. I like it.


SteveSteve - 3/28/2012 7:18:30 PM
+1 Boost
Toyota isn't the first to design unattractive cars, and this is certainly not the first unattractive Toyota design.


chewychewy - 3/28/2012 8:14:11 PM
+1 Boost
I imagine automakers can go back to 1990 weights with the cheap route and have safety performance around 2000 level, 2012 safety with 1990 type weight will cost more.


MorePowerMorePower - 3/29/2012 1:58:21 AM
+1 Boost
Don't be fooled. Toyota is pulling a Dodge/Chrysler and showing the public a thinly veiled version of the next generation Prius.

It's quirky, but it does have style and looks a lot better than the current generation Prius.


carguy68carguy68 - 3/29/2012 2:52:00 PM
+1 Boost
I guess people are only buying cars from toyota for their fuel economy.
Thanks gas prices for putting ugly cars on the road!


bconcabconca - 3/29/2012 3:51:04 PM
+1 Boost
Toyota, at least to my North American eyes has rarely been able to describe its cars as stylish. So why start now? Conversely, the Italians (and Americans?) working for the Korean manufacturers are coming up with interesting designs of late.


randy3022randy3022 - 3/29/2012 6:59:57 PM
+1 Boost
As we've seen with the hideous Nissan Leaf, buyers are willing to accept function over form, especially when the cumulative effect of many years of continued gas savings is on the table.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/1/2012 3:43:54 PM
+1 Boost
What do you mean "abandoned style"? The car pictured is an automotive design masterpiece.
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