Toyota 1/X Concept: lightweight hybrid vehicle
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Toyota’s 1/X Concept is pronounced one-Xth, not one over X. The X also does not mean 10, instead 1/X means the vehicle is only “1/Xth” the weight of other vehicle in its class, whatever class it may be. It represents a new idea of what it means to be environmentally considerate.
This particular 1/X Concept car shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show takes the current Toyota Prius as a basis of comparison. It maintains the same interior space with that of a Toyota Prius, but only weighs 420kg, which is one third the weight of the Toyota Prius. The result is a target of double the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Prius.
This reduced weight is thanks to a light but highly rigid carbon fiber reinforced plastic body frame. This also allows narrower pillars for better visibility from inside the cockpit.
The 500cc hybrid powertrain is a combination of a FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicle, capable of running on a mix of gasoline and ethanol) combustion engine and an electric motor hooked up to batteries with plug-in charging capability. This hybrid system is located at the rear of the car under the rear seat bench, effectively giving the car a midship rear wheel drive configuration.
More photos after the jump.
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November 8, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
With so many new concept cars available for display yet to prove their value on the road. Only established company with strong financial support and profitable company can spend money this way. Hope P1 or even P2 would not follow this trend as eventually most car will end up in showroom and dont benefit car user
November 8, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
every consumer wants more mileage per litre these days…
hope car maker would make these concept into production soon…
but i guess they would do slowly hoping consumer to buy another fossil fuel car drinker from them(car makers) before opting to clean drive…
every makes will try their best to earn more profit(from fossil fuel car) for each development cost…
November 8, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
This car looks like a plastic public transport. Reminds me of the taxi from the movie “total recall”. the car is mainly made of plastic and composite to make it lighter. I bet this concept vehicle is less than 0.5ton.
Still it does not inspire me to get one. It looks silly.
November 8, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
did i hear “carbon fibre”??? the material izit cheap these days? i doubt for the price…
November 8, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
i won’t spend my money on dis type of car if dey make production.
November 9, 2007 @ 12:57 am
just concept…
November 9, 2007 @ 3:46 am
What is with those air ducts? increase resistance=fuel consumption?
November 9, 2007 @ 6:26 am
at 420 kilos….even if this goes on sale….i’ll never drive 1…..a strong wind during high speed might just blow this off the road.
November 9, 2007 @ 10:08 am
when strong wind blows, will this car be able to stay on the ground??