BMW’s i3 is Here, Will it Increase BMW’s Market Share?

BMW has embraced electric cars and hybridization in a big way, launching the hot-selling i3 electric city car and the exciting BMW i8 electric supercar to rave reviews already. BMW isn’t finished yet, though, and has plans to electrify even more of its models, including the German company’s other sub-brand, Mini.

The real question for industry-watchers, then, isn’t “can BMW sell electric cars?” Rather, it seems to be “will BMW’s electric cars increase the company’s overall market share?” That’s the question Zachary Shahan is asking over at our sister site, EV Obsession, and we’ve reproduced his article, below. Enjoy!

Will The BMW i Lineup Boost BMW’s Market Share?

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I’ve discussed it many times: I’m confident that electric vehicles will replace gasmobiles within the next decade or so. There are so many clear benefits that electric cars have over gasmobiles, including convenience, acceleration, and drive quality.

Electric car sales more than tripled from 2010 to 2011, increased 2½ times from 2011 to 2012, and more than doubled again from the end of 2012 to the end of 2013. As some have explained, electric cars may be ~50% of the way toward market domination. Battery costs have come down fast, which is an important driver of that growth, and that trend isn’t likely to stop anytime soon, especially as it is getting boosted by economies of scale.

You would think that industry insiders would see the writing on the wall: electric vehicles are coming, and they are coming to take over the market. However, as we’ve seen many times before, established industries have a lot of inertia and industry insiders have a hard time seeing that they need to transition to a disruptive technology… or be eaten. It has happened in many industries, but I like to call it “the Kodak moment,” in reference to Kodak’s great fall and a slogan that teenagers today have probably never heard (because of Kodak’s great fall).

Industry Inertia & Denial

The automobile industry is one of the largest in the world, and I think that only increases industry inertia and denial. However, a few major auto manufacturers seem to see what’s around the corner. Nissan-Renault is one of them, with strong statements coming from Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn about the future of electric vehicles, and I’d say the other big proponent of the electric vehicle future among major automakers is German giant BMW.

BMW Already Benefiting From BMW i Lineup

BMW hasn’t just introduced a couple of electric cars. It hasn’t simply modified gas versions of vehicles to make them electric, like most auto manufacturers have done. No, it has an entire program focused on developing electric cars. Its BMW i program, as it’s called, was kicked off in 2013 with the launch of the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid electric supercar. However, BMW plans to eventually have electric versions of all of its vehicles.

The BMW i3 is very nicely priced between the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, and its performance fits the pricing. It is a clear performance and comfort level above most electric cars. As I wrote when I reviewed the i3, it’s the nicest car I’ve ever driven (Note: I’ve driven a number of nice gasmobiles, but not a Tesla Model S).

Not surprisingly, the i3 is bringing in a lot of first-time BMW customers. In fact, last I read, 80% of BMW i3 buyers came from other brands. That’s impressive, and a great sign that BMW is moving in the right direction.

BMW is bringing the i3 to the Chinese market later this year. It is supposed to be selling it all around the US, not just in select markets (like many automakers do with the electric options). It is selling the i3 across its home country of Germany, as well as much of Europe. And it already has a nice market of supplementary BMW i3 products.

But it’s not just about where you are selling and to whom you are selling; it’s how much you are selling.

Luckily, the news is good on that front as well. Earlier this year, BMW announced that it would be increasing production to match strong demand.

We don’t know for sure which car companies are going to lead the electric car market once it grows to dominate the overall car market, but history has shown that companies that lead the way into a new market tend to benefit greatly from that leadership. Look at Toyota’s success in the hybrid market. Look at Google’s success in the search engine market. Look at Microsoft’s success in the software market. Look at Apple’s success! BMW is certainly one of the first serious movers in the electric vehicle market. It has an aim of selling 100,000 electric vehicles by 2020, which isn’t a great amount, but for it’s higher-end target market, that may not be a bad target. Furthermore, BMW is one of the only companies I’ve seen announce electric car sales targets.

Also, targets can be raised. In fact, it’s quite good press to say that you are exceeding your targets. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw BMW raise its electric car sales targets before too long. Eventually, I think BMW could see strong market growth from being bullish about electric cars. But we’ll have to see how bullish it ends up being, how innovative, and how much better than the competition.

Source: EV Obsession.

Toyota: Hydrogen Fuel Will Be Costly

Toyota is one of the most outspoken proponents of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, even ditching its partnership with Tesla Motors to focus on the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. But even with generous incentives, fueling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles won’t be cheap, with a full tank of the clean-burning fuel costing around $50, reports Ecomento.

That’s what Toyota’s Senior VP of North America Bob Carter said at the recent JP Morgan Auto Conference, claiming that cost estimate comes directly from the Department of Energy. He says the cost will eventually fall to about $30, which is about on par with the cost to fuel many high-mileage compact cars. For example, my 2012 Chevy Sonic 1.4T costs on average about $35 to fill, and gives me 300 miles of driving range, which is what the Toyota Mirai is claiming.

From the onset though, hydrogen fuel will remain nearly twice as expensive as gasoline it seems, though the Department of Energy is funding research to accelerate price parity with gasoline. But from the onset, filling up a hydrogen fuel cell car is going to be costly, moreso than even gasoline.

Then again, you could just buy a car like the Tesla Model S, which can go 265 miles on a full charge which will cost you (depending on where you live) less than $10 to fully charge. If you hook up to a Tesla Supercharger though, that fuel is free. The initial batch of Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell buyers will also get free fuel, though from a limited (though growing) number of hydrogen fueling stations across SoCal.

Toyota’s admission though makes it clear that even if you do buy a hydrogen car, it won’t save you a dime on fuel costs. Meanwhile, electric vehicles continue to increase in range and decrease in cost, and by 2017 the Tesla Model III aims to offer a 200-mile driving range per charge in a $35,000 sedan, half the price of the $70,000 Toyota Mirai, which begins production at the end of this year.

Sounds like yet another advantage goes to EVs, but Toyota doesn’t want to hear it.

Source: Toyota

Tesla And Toyota Clashed Over RAV4 EV

Earlier this year one of Silicon Valley’s most-celebrated technology partnerships came to an end when Tesla and Toyota announced the end of their EV partnership. A new Bloomberg piece reveals just what went wrong in a clash of cultures and proprietary technologies.

Announced in 2010, the $50 million partnership promised to deliver at least 2,600 RAV4 EVs with batteries and drivetrains developed by Tesla. The electric automaker also bought into the NUMMI factory for the low cost of just $42 million, giving it a much-needed manufacturing hub. Yet almost immediately the wheels began to fall off the wagon.

One of the main points of contention concerned the parking pawl, or lack-thereof, in the Tesla-supplied design proposals. The electric automaker had done away with the device in favor of an electric parking brake backup, but Toyota engineers stood their ground, and it makes me wonder if they weren’t being too set-in-their ways. The RAV4 EV did get the pawl, and Toyota also got its way when it came to designing the battery enclosure as well. Considering the concerns with protecting the battery pack of the Model S, maybe Toyota was in the right on that one.

The regenerative braking feature was another area of contention, and neither the Toyota nor the Tesla engineering teams would share their proprietary software data with each other. That made making adjustments to the system unnecessarily difficult. Customers haven’t been too thrilled with the RAV4 EV’s performance either, and with sales and service limited to only California, just over 1,900 have been sold since going on sale in 2012. The $50,000 price tag was a big turnoff too, though the EPA-rated range of more than 100 miles per charge is the most you can get in an EV that isn’t the Tesla Model S.

The issues go beyond engineering spats though; Toyota has decided to invest heavily into hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, a technology that Elon Musk has publicly called “bullshit”. One can’t help but wonder if Musk’s bravado factored into the decision as well?

I can tell you it certainly didn’t help things. With these two former friends now standing in opposite corners of the boxing ring, it’s only a matter of time before they come to blows again. In the battle of Tesla vs. Toyota, we may be seeing the future of alternative fuels decided once and for all.

Source: Gas 2.

Japan Could Offer Free Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Japanese automakers are betting big on hydrogen fuel vehicles, and they’ve convinced government officials to stack the deck in their favor. While the Japanese government has already signed on to offer at least $20,000 in incentives to cover the cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, some officials are reportedly calling for free hydrogen cars and fuel to early adopters.

Automotive News reports that in addition to the $20,000 from the Tokyo-based national government, Toyota’s home district of Aichi will offer an additional $10,000, bringing the cost of the Toyota FCV/Mirai down from $70,000 to just $40,000. As though that’s not enough, the Japanese government also plans to invest in some 100 hydrogen fueling stations to give drivers a place to fill up.

That’s pretty generous, but apparently there’s even a plan to offer some buyers a free, without any cost at all, hydrogen car. While these reports are tenous at best, perhaps a national lottery to give away the first 100 or so hydrogen cars to interested individuals might be a way to drum up interest amongst the general public. Who wouldn’t want a cutting-edge, free car, in exchange for taking part in an extensive driving study?

Considering all the challenges hydrogen cars have to overcome compared to battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, maybe giving a few away is a way to drum up some interest in a technology most people still don’t quite “get.”

Source: Gas 2.

New Battery Boasts 7 Times More Energy Density

Imagine a lithium-ion battery that packs 7 times more energy per kilogram than any battery available today. How would that change the future of electric vehicles?

Just last week, we reported on a conversation with  Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota’s head of research and development, who complains that the batteries available today are simply not good enough to make EV’s a credible choice for most buyers. Kato said it will take a “Nobel Prize winning battery” before EV’s go mainstream. Toyota, Honda and the Japanese government have made a major commitment to hydrogen fuel cell cars instead.

This week a research team at the University of Tokyo School of Engineering has announced a new lithium ion battery that packs seven times more energy density – at 2,570 watt-hours per kilogram – than current lithium ion batteries. The team, led by Professor Noritaka Mizuno,  adds cobalt to the lithium oxide crystal structure of the positive electrode, which promotes the creation of oxides and peroxides during the charge/discharge cycle. In addition, it promises significantly faster recharge times as well.

Isn’t it ironic that the “Nobel battery” Toyota’s Kato referred to may have been invented by a team of Japanese scientists? For a more detailed technical explanation of the of the new battery, see the report first published in Nikkei Technology.

Of course, this breakthrough is still in the experimental stage. Energy dense lithium ion batteries will not be on the shelf at WalMart any time soon. But if the claims for the new battery prove valid, expect to see the struggle between EV’s and FCV tilt sharply in favor of electric vehicles. Now the range for the new Porsche Cayenne PHEV could be 112 miles instead of 16, and that shiny new Nissan LEAF could go over 500 miles on a full charge instead of just 73. And the Tesla Model S would be able to drive some 1,855 miles before needing to be plugged in.

Maybe now would be a good time for the folks at the University of Tokyo School of Engineering to find space for that Nobel Prize?

Source: Gas 2.

Japan Offers $20,000 For Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Honda and Toyota, two of Japan’s largest automakers, have wholly embraced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as the alternative fuel of the future. They aren’t alone either, with the Japanese government doling out a huge $20,000 incentive towards the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reports Reuters.

That’s more than double the maximum of $8,500 buyers can get back from the purchase of an all-electric vehicle. However, all of the electric vehicles sold by Japanese automakers are much, much cheaper than the $70,000 Toyota FCV, for example. Even so, this generous incentive brings the cost down to a more palatable $50,000 (ish), though that’s no guarantee that buyers are ready to sign on.

As it stands there are just 12 stations online along Japan’s “hydrogen highway”, though by the end of 2015 the number should be closer to 100. Compare that to an estimated 12,000 EV chargers that Japanese automakers are teaming up to install, and even with this huge incentive, electric vehicles seem to have a huge advantage.

Don’t tell that to Toyota or Hyundai though; both automakers are committing tremendous resources to advance hydrogen, cutting off their EV programs at the knees in a bid to make hydrogen viable. In Japan, heavy incentives will certainly help, but can the same generosity be counted on in the U.S. or Europe?

Source:  Gas 2.

2014 Lexus RX450h Hybrid Gets Driven, if Only Briefly

I didn’t expect much from Lexus’ latest hybrid SUV, the 2014 Lexus RX450h. After being disappointed with its sporty sedan brother a few weeks ago, I fully expected to walk away from the RX shaking my head at all the people who ponied up their hard-earned money to make this the best-selling luxury SUV in America. Turns out, those thousands of buyers knew something that, until recently, I didn’t know: the Lexus RX450h is a fantastic vehicle.

There is, quite simply, a lot that Lexus got wrong with the GS450h. Weirdly, almost all of the GS’ shortcomings, as if by magic, are made right in the RX. Let me try to explain …

Lexus RX450h – the Right Look

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Where the GS went largely un-noticed, despite its bigmouth bass grille and excessively flash wheels, the Lexus RX450h immediately got the attention of my gear head neighbors. “They’re giving you Lexus’ now?” asked one. “I need to have your job!”

The immediate “nice car” reaction most people had to the RX had nothing to do with a hyper-aggressive grille opening (the RX doesn’t have one) or giant, sporty rims (the RX doesn’t have those, either). It might have something to do with the fact that every generation of Lexus RX looks an awful lot like all the rest of them, however. See, people have spent years being conditioned to equate the RX’ basic design to “Lexus”, and “Lexus” to “nice car”.

Maybe.

Or, maybe, it was the paint. My 2014 Lexus RX450h was painted in Satin Cashmere Metallic, and it looked fantastic. Not quite silver, not quite beige, not quite green, and not quite “champagne”, it was a terrific color that whispered “hybrid” just enough to make me wonder if it was a hybrid-only color (it’s not).

Lexus RX450h – the Right Feel

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Inside, the 2014 Lexus RX450h does away with the massive center console of the RWD GS450h, giving it a much more open vibe than the dogfighter/cockpit-like GS. The wood in the RX also seemed to be a bit nicer, and the ridiculous, “me-too” analog clock mounted in the center of the GS’ dash was nowhere to be found.

Awesome!

Every surface of the Lexus RX450h that I touched, from the steering wheel to the center console to the door’s armrest, was soft, and felt like it was built of quality stuff. The Lexus Enform infotainment system, also, was significantly less painful to operate in the RX than in the GS. So much so, in fact, that I’m now totally convinced that there was something seriously wrong with the unit mounted in the GS. Still, it was a long, long way from perfect.

For starters, using the center console-mounted mouse thing in the Lexus RX450h requires you to take your eyes off the road and focus on the infotainment screen. That’s because there’s no real haptic difference between the feeling of, say, changing the station, changing the volume, or switching over to the navi screen … which, it should be noted, you can do on the move. At any speed. Lexus is totally cool with someone barreling down the road with one hand on the wheel and both eyes focused on the infotainment screen that’s deep-set into the dash. It’s a terrible, terrible design decision, and single-handedly explains why almost everyone I know rates Lexus RX drivers as the worst on the road.

Any road.

I learned to rely on the “yes, an actually real human person” Destination Assistant (a generic level 1 version of GM’s OnStar operators) to set the Lexus RX450h’s nav while I was on the move. It was a much safer option, and works well enough.

Other than complaints about the infotainment system, driving the 2014 Lexus RX450h was a pleasant enough experience that I hardly noticed the lack of heated seats in the thing. It was a weird omission, considering the Lexus’ $55K sticker price (especially considering that the sub $15K Chevy Spark I tested a few weeks back did have heated seats). Lexus’ website insists, however, that I can have heated/air-conditioned seats in my RX450h for just $825.

Here in Chicago, that’d be money well spent!

Lexus RX450h – Final Thoughts

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The Lexus RX450h is exactly what it says on the tin: a nice, well-appointed SUV that’s not overkill (like a Range Rover) and that’s not trying overly hard to compensate for its drivers’ crotchular shortcomings (like a Porsche Cayenne or “Rollin’ Coal” pickup). Instead, it’s a practical, family-friendly SUV that gives a commanding view of the road ahead, adequately impresses the neighbors, and – at some $30K less than the mechanically similar GS450h – won’t break the entry-luxe-level bank while doing so.

Sadly, my time with the 2014 Lexus RX450h was cut unexpectedly short when it was needed elsewhere, so I can’t get too far into real-world MPG or how it felt on the drive between Chicago, IL and Madison, WI. All the same, the RX left me with a newfound respect for Lexus’ products, and a little more humility than I had, before. I guess all those thousands of Lexus RX SUV buyers aren’t wrong after all.

Source: Gas2

Toyota Executive Puts Kibosh On Electric Cars

Toyota is about to pull the plug on electric cars. Production of its last EVs – the eQ electric minicar and RAV4 EV crossover – will be finished by the end of 2014, and there are no plans for any future Toyota full-size electric cars at the moment (though the Toyota i-Road three-wheeler is making headway as a rental). Recently, Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota’s head of research and development, told Automotive News;

The cruising distance is so short for EVs, and the charging time is so long. At the current level of technology, somebody needs to invent a Nobel Prize-winning type battery.

He says today’s EVs need more batteries to offer the same driving range as a gasoline or diesel powered car. That in turn would increase the cost and charging time, leading to a “vicious cycle.”

Kato’s remarks came at the unveiling of Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell powered car, the FCV, which is set to appear in showrooms in 2015. The Japanese auto industry as a whole is placing a huge bet on hydrogen being the fuel of choice in the future with automakers like Honda and Mazda also committing to hydrogen. At the same time, much of the rest of the automotive industry is pressing ahead to bring more electric cars to market. Somewhere down the line, there will be much weeping and wringing of hands in the board rooms of some of the world’s biggest car manufacturers. We just don’t know which ones yet.

Kato says if electrics turn out to be the way to go, Toyota has the technology already on the shelf and can ramp up production of EV’s whenever that “Nobel Prize winning battery” becomes available. In the meantime, no one is going to be buying fuel cell cars unless tens of thousands of hydrogen refueling facilities get built.

In the end, the key to the EV vs. fuel cell battle will be determined by infrastructure as much as technology.

Source: Toyota

2016 Toyota Prius Could Get AWD, Battery Options

Though it has reportedly been delayed by six months, the 2016 Toyota Prius may get new features that set up apart in the hybrid field, including all-wheel drive. That’s the latest from a report by Automotive News, which says a lithium-ion battery pack is probably also on tap.

Due to diminishing returns on hybrid fuel economy, engineers have already said to expect perhaps as little as a 10% increase in MPG. That would keep the Prius on top with a 55 MPG rating, but Toyota has decided that isn’t enough in a market where there’s now a hybrid version of most vehicles. So it’s looking to up the ante, offering features other hybrids don’t yet have, like wireless charging and all-wheel drive, which could come be borrowed from the new 2015 Lexus NX 300h. Two different battery pack options could also be on the table; the standard and affordable nickel-hydride battery pack, and a costlier lithium-ion battery, though how that benefits consumers I’m not exactly sure.

Looks like buyers will have plenty of options when it comes to the next generation of America’s most-popular hybrid.There’s lots of technology coming to the 2016 Prius for sure, but is this because Toyota is unable to come up with the fuel economy ratings it hoped for? Or are they trying to broaden the appeal of the Prius in a world where buyers are dorking-out over the high-tech Tesla Model S?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Porsche

New Toyota Prius Plug-In To Get Wireless Charging

Toyota had previously announced that it was testing Massachusetts-based WiTriCity’s wireless charging system on the Prius Plug-In, and those tests apparently went well. Plug-In Cars reports that the WiTriCity wireless charging system will be offered as an option on the next Toyota Prius Plug-In, due out in the fall of 2016.

The system is based off of technology developed down the street at MIT by Marin Soljačić, and what seems to have courted Toyota is the concept of “positional freedom.” Basically, the car and charging pad don’t need to be precisely aligned to deliver a charge, as they are in many other systems. This means drivers are free from annoying repositioning of the car in order to ensure it gets juiced up. RIght now charging is limited to just 3.3 kWh, but should be up to 6.6 kWh by next year, before it goes on sale in the new Prius Plug-In. Wireless charging is a huge boon for EV and plug-in hybrid owners, as it totally eliminates the plugging-in part.

It makes sense that Toyota would pursue wireless charging with the next Prius Plug-In, as reports are painting a picture of a more high-tech hybrid than the current car. Wireless charging is likely to be just one piece of the puzzle, as Toyota is finding it more and more difficult to improve fuel economy due to diminishing returns on engine and aerodynamic efficiency. As far as my wishlist for the Prius Plug-In goes, more operational range would be nice, and would probably boost sales as the competition is eating away at the hybrid’s annual sales lead.

Make no mistake, the Prius is still top dog, and by making if techier, Toyota is only broadening its appeal. 2016 is supposedly the year wireless charging goes mainstream, and it could make the growing number of EV charging stations obsolete in short order. Or it could be a nifty feature that works better in theory than in practice.

Will your next EV have wireless charging capabilities?

Source: Toyota

InMotion Announces Hybrid LMP1 Contender for 2016

It’s still just a concept, at this stage, but what a concept! The car you see here is being called the InMotion IM01, and the sexy, slinky, and slippery-looking race car is expected to compete against the established LMP1 teams of Porsche, Toyota, and Audi at the 2016 24 Hr. Nürburging race before going to LeMans in the experimental “Garage 56″ grid spot.

Like most modern LMP contenders, the InMotion IM01 is set to feature advanced hybrid-electric technology, combining a Wankel-style rotary generator with 4 in-wheel electric motors. Those motors would be individually controlled by advanced software to maximize grip in every corner of every lap, regardless of the weather.

If InMotion’s LMP1 contender comes together in time, the company’s wind-tunnel boffins are projecting a top speed in excess of 220 MPH.

So, do any of you think InMotion has a better chance of taking on the big boys as Perrinn Or, for that matter, Porsche? Do you think they’ll make it past the 24 minute mark if they do make it to LeMans 2016? Let us know what you think, in the comments.

Source | Images: InMotion, via TechVehi.

Safety Exemption Sought For U.S. Sales Of The Toyota FCV

There is little doubt that the United States has some of the most onerous automotive safety regulations in the world, and sometimes that makes selling a new kind of car technology difficult. Toyota is asking for a special exemption for its FCV hydrogen fuel cell car that has to do with the separation of high-voltage components and the safety of first responders.

Bloomberg reports that the rule, FMVSS No. 305, requires automakers to isolate high-voltage components in the event of an accident in order to prevent first responders from being electrocuted. Unfortunately for Toyota, such a mechanism would render the FCV inoperable, even after a minor fender bender.

The Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, and other electric vehicles all integrate such a system, but Toyota is petitioning the NHTSA for a special exemption from this rule. Instead, Toyota says it will wrap high-voltage wires in extra insulation and protect the hydrogen fuel stack, electric motor, and battery with metal barriers.

With Toyota limiting sales to just 2,500 units a year at first, it’s likely the NHTSA will grant Toyota its exemption for the first couple of years while engineers figure out a better solution for the $69,000 FCV. I have to say though, for all of Toyota’s bluster on the greatness of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the fact that they’re seeking safety exemptions isn’t exactly encouraging. The hydrogen fuel tanks may be bulletproof, but is extra insulation and metal barriers going to prevent an inexperienced first responder from getting shocked or even killed?

Toyota seems to think so, though ultimately the answer lies with the NHTSA, and while it seems unlikely, what will Toyota do if its exemption is denied? Without the RAV4 EV and Tesla to fall back on, Toyota has put all its eggs in a basket called the FCV..

Source: Toyota

The Toyota i-Road - Fun Packed - Video

There have been long-standing concerns that high fuel costs could one day force everybody into driving tiny pod cars instead of the hulking SUVs and pickups America enduringly loves. If the tiny pod cars of the future end up anything like the Toyota i-Road, you can sign me up right now, because it looks fun as hell.

All-electric and with just enough space for two passengers and a few grocery bags, the Toyota i-Road recently began limited trials in Tokyo…and it legit looks fun. It swoops and slices across the road, and even though it isn’t going fast, the active suspension system leans into the turns, allowing it to change direction in a snap. To be specific, the turning radius is…wait for it…less than three feet.

Not only does it look fun, but in a crowded city like Tokyo, it is super convenient as well. You can park almost anywhere, just jump in and go, and not have to worry about being rained on like motorcyclists and scooter drivers are. The three-wheeler looks far more appealing than GM’s EN-V pod vehicles.

The best part though is that it returns a sense of “driving” to the car experience, as you’re not insulated from the road by a massive machine. Instead, you lean with the i-Road, and you have more control on the overall experience than you’d find in almost any other production car. As long as Toyota could keep it affordable, I’d say the future is bright for a production version of the i-Road.

Source: Gas 2.

2014 Toyota FT1 back

2014 Toyota FT1 back

Anybody remember this sweet-faced sports car? He is one of Toyota's latest sports car concept which was recently busy talking about because it is believed as a manifestation of the next generation Toyota Supra later.



The figure of the future concept of the latest Japanese giant dropout factory is named Toyota FT1 and introduced at the Detroit International Motor Show 2014 in January. A few months out of the public eye, suddenly he was seen by the event CarNinja in Cars and Irvine recently.

As the name suggests, 'Future Toyota-1' concept is designed with a futuristic aura of a very viscous fluid on the exterior side wrapped in seductive red color. Smooth curved body lines in the whole body not just be the spice that makes it more unsightly, but also able to maximize the 'airflow' well.



Complements and adds to the beauty of the dynamics of the outer side of the car, the presence of inlets, ducts and vents which keeps the water temperature remains optimal and retractable rear wing mounts to control downforce design alloy results 2000GT, Selica, MR2 and Supra Scion FR-S's.

Info about the performance is still very limited, there is only news that he will carry the 'high-technology and high performance internal combustion engines' is still a secret.

Toyota 4Runner SUV cool cars in 2014

2014 Toyota 4Runner is the SUV type car from Toyota. This car has a sturdy exterior design and sporty. This car is 4-wheel drive car or 4WD. Powered by a 4.0-liter V6 DOHC Dangan type of work the 24-valve.
This car is able to output 270 horsepower. To make it tough and strong car Toyota designed the 5-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) and sequential shift mode.

DESIGN

Toyota strives to build vehicles to match customer interest and thus they typically are built with popular options and option packages. Not all options/packages are available separately and some may not be available in all regions of the country. If you would prefer a vehicle with no or different options, contact your dealer to check for current availability or the possibility of placing a special order.

Some vehicles are shown with available equipment. Seatbelts should be worn at all times. For details on vehicle specifications, standard features and available equipment in your area, contact your Toyota dealer. A vehicle with particular equipment may not be available at the dealership. Ask your Toyota dealer to help locate a specifically equipped vehicle.

All information presented herein is based on data available at the time of posting, is subject to change without notice and pertains specifically to mainland U.S.A. vehicles only (may differ in the state of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and in other regions).

Toyota 4Runner SR5

Contemporary ruggedness. The 2014 4Runner SR5’s front end has been redesigned with a bold new look, while still paying tribute to the iconic image that has distinguished 4Runner for years.

Toyota 4Runner Trail

The 2014 4Runner Trail stands out with two distinctive features: its signature hood scoop and a new contrasting silver panel on the front and rear bumpers — subtle statements that make a bold impression.

Toyota 4Runner Limited

Apart from a unique front-end design, 4Runner Limited comes with refined accents like chrome door handles and a chrome-accented front grille that give it a personality of its own