DigInfo News
Featuring Toyota’s Plug-in Hybrid Technology, the Toyota Hi-CT concept, designed with the youth market and young families living in busy urban centers in mind, aims to break the conventional boundaries of an urban vehicle, with unusual dimensions and a look unconstrained by conventional vehicle size, yet still seating four passengers.
“As you can see, the shape of the car is much more square than our conventional designs because what young people think is cool is different to what older people think is cool, we found this out from interviews and the media.”
By placing the battery underneath the floor, the cabin features a higher driver position and more efficient use of cabin space, it also has mounted windows and a wide cabin interior, improving flexibility. The car is powered by a 1.5 liter engine fused with a hybrid motor, with plug-in hybrid technology allowing it to charge from external power sources at home or on the road and giving it a greater driving range when running on it’s battery powered motor. Electricity for personal devices can be accessed from inside the car with an AC 100v accessory socket.
“The interior was designed by a French-born designer who is still young and in his mid-20’s. The inspiration for the interior was the designers interpretation of Toyko, and the concept is arrows, so when you look at the car you can see many arrows, the designer said that the number of arrows in Tokyo is striking.”
Measuring just 3.3 by 1.7 meters in diameter, the Hi-CT also manages to squeeze in a removable rear trunk and deck which can be used to carry bikes or other equipment.
