Photo: Lexus
In case you didn’t know, Tokyo won the honor to host the 2020 Olympics, and the local industry is planning to take full advantage of this incredible marketing opportunity. Toyota Motor Corporation will one of the sponsors of the event, and they have big plans according to a Japanese auto magazine.
The publication claims that the manufacturer wants to launch a couple of models until then, cars that would then be marketed as the athletes run against each other in the challenges of the contest. The most important launch would be the one of a rumored fuel-cell powered Lexus LS, a possibility that surfaced online last year as well.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Indeed, the first car using fuel-cell technology after the Mirai seems to be the Lexus LS that will be launched somewhere around 2018, followed by a revamped version of the Toyota Crown that will use a similar drivetrain.
Another car that will possibly get the same treatment could be the Estima minivan that will enter a new age once the next-generation rolls out. A taxi based on the JPN Taxi Concept revealed in 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show could be offered with zero emissions by 2020. This would be a replacement for the current Crown Comfort cabs seen everywhere in Japan.
Other rumored new models that would borrow the Mirai’s drivetrain in different variations would be the Toyota Noah, Voxy, Alphard and Vellfire as well as the fourth-generation Prius that is expected next year.
When asked to comment on the allegations, Toyota refused to confirm anything but they did say that the 2020 Olympics will mark a ‘mental and philosophical milestone’ for the company. That’s basically a confirmation in our book. Furthermore, the same spokesperson said that the company is indeed looking to expand the Mirai drivetrains to other models.
The cars offered by the sponsor have to be used for various photoshoots with officials, VIPs, spectators and so on. Using eco-friendly models is a must at this point, as the organizers will want to push for a big impact.
Toyota won’t be showcasing its new fleet of fuel-cell-powered cars during the couple of days the Olympic Games take place in Tokyo. They signed a contract with the organization for a long-term partnership that would expand over ten years into 2024. Therefore, get ready to see their logo next to the famous five-ringed one for quite some time.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Indeed, the first car using fuel-cell technology after the Mirai seems to be the Lexus LS that will be launched somewhere around 2018, followed by a revamped version of the Toyota Crown that will use a similar drivetrain.
Another car that will possibly get the same treatment could be the Estima minivan that will enter a new age once the next-generation rolls out. A taxi based on the JPN Taxi Concept revealed in 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show could be offered with zero emissions by 2020. This would be a replacement for the current Crown Comfort cabs seen everywhere in Japan.
Other rumored new models that would borrow the Mirai’s drivetrain in different variations would be the Toyota Noah, Voxy, Alphard and Vellfire as well as the fourth-generation Prius that is expected next year.
When asked to comment on the allegations, Toyota refused to confirm anything but they did say that the 2020 Olympics will mark a ‘mental and philosophical milestone’ for the company. That’s basically a confirmation in our book. Furthermore, the same spokesperson said that the company is indeed looking to expand the Mirai drivetrains to other models.
Why the Olympics?
The Olympic Games have shown a lot of love for emission-free cars for quite some time now, for various reasons. One of most important one is to demonstrate that the air the athletes inhale must be of the best quality, a feat that is not possible with the current situation in the field of car transportation, with most cars relying on fossil fuels to get around.The cars offered by the sponsor have to be used for various photoshoots with officials, VIPs, spectators and so on. Using eco-friendly models is a must at this point, as the organizers will want to push for a big impact.
Toyota won’t be showcasing its new fleet of fuel-cell-powered cars during the couple of days the Olympic Games take place in Tokyo. They signed a contract with the organization for a long-term partnership that would expand over ten years into 2024. Therefore, get ready to see their logo next to the famous five-ringed one for quite some time.
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