Toyota will be debuting an autonomous-capable, electric-powered concept in Geneva. The automaker says that the i-TRIL Concept, positioned as an alternative to city cars, other electric vehicles and motorcycles, is aimed at people who want to have fun even while puttering about at slow speeds in urban surroundings.
Quite how this fun aspect will be presented remains to be seen, as is the shape of the study itself, but the automaker says the vehicle, which has a one-plus-two seating layout, features Active Lean technology.
The tech, which angles the vehicle when cornering to provide high levels of stability, safety and comfort, has been seen before, on the i-ROAD three-wheeler that was first presented in 2013, also at the Swiss show.
On that one, the system uses a lean actuator and gearing mounted above the front suspension member, linked via a yoke to the left and right front wheels. An ECU calculates the required degree of lean based on steering angle, gyro-sensor and vehicle speed information, and the system automatically moves the wheels up/down in opposite directions, applying a lean angle to counteract the centrifugal force of cornering.
Developed by Toyota Motor Europe, in collaboration with the company’s ED2 design studio in Nice, the i-TRIL is set to showcase numerous innovative aspects of the automaker’s research into improved and more engaging environmentally-friendly mobility solutions. The study is also said to be capable of operating autonomously.
GALLERY: Toyota i-ROAD all-electric personal mobility vehicle, 2013
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Nice. Way advance than many manufacturers