Toyota FT-EV II Previewed Before Tokyo

Japanese manufacturer Toyota keeps on releasing details of the vehicles it plans to bring to the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show later this month. After earlier today we witnessed the first images of the so called Toyobaru, the FT-86, the manufacturer is now introducing us to the FT-EV II.

If you didn't know by now, FT stands for Future Toyota. This one in particular is an electric powered vehicle, running on lithium-ion batteries. They provide the FT-EV II with a maximum range of some 90 km (55 miles) at a top speed of 100 km/h (60 mph). So far, Toyota left some for the show itself and did not disclose other important details, such as recharge time.

As for the design lines chosen for the EV, some may clearly distinguish a bit of iQ in the car, or at least the previous FT-EV. The front of the car however comes with a large windscreen, extending down into the hood and creating the impression of a cyclops iQ.

Toyota apparently put a lot of though into the car's interior and technology. The interior has been designed to be retro-futuristic. We, on the other hand, find it a bit confusing...No steering wheel, no pedals. Why is that?

Well, Toyota fitted the FT II with an auto pilot function, which in this case is more than what meats the eye... or in this case, ear. It is able to download, by itself, both visual and audio content, to meet the desires and requirements established by the user.

The FT-EV II will be displayed, as we said, at the Tokyo Show later this month. Further details will be made available as we get closer to the event.