The Toyota HiLux RV-3 is a concept vehicle made by Toyota in 1980. It entered production as the third generation Hilux.[1]
DV-1 (1981)
The Toyota DV-1 was introduced in 1981. It is a Welcab style, and was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show. The car is designed for individuals with severe upper extremity disabilities. Based on the Toyota Corolla 1500SE passenger car, the DV-1 has been modified so that operations normally performed by the hands can be performed instead by other parts of the body. For example, the doors can be opened and closed with the feet. The car can be steered with the left leg. The shift lever, switches, parking brake and other devices can be operated with the right leg and right shoulder, and the turn signal switch with the head. The fully automatic air conditioner and radio respond to spoken commands. The latest Toyota technical advances are located throughout the DV-1. These include remote control door lock/unlock, automatic seatbelts, vehicle-speed-responsive door lock, headlights with automatic on/off and high and low beam use control, and "run flat tires" which can be driven on for short distances after punctures.[2]
The Toyota EX-11 was a concept vehicle by Toyota shown at the 1981 Tokyo Motor Show. Based on the prototype Soarer, the EX-11 demonstrated advance electronics such as electronic engine and drive train management, colour monitors and fibre optic wiring.
The Toyota SV-2 was a concept vehicle by Toyota shown at the 1981 Tokyo Motor Show. Based on the second-generation Supra, the SV-2 featured different styling, complete with a removable targa top and a maroon and white interior.
The Toyota RV-5 was a concept vehicle by Toyota shown at the Jan 1982 Tokyo Auto Salon[3] and the March 1983 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the upcoming 4WDTercel L20, the RV-5 was configured as a cross country mobile camera platform. The RV-5 was close to the released 4WD Tercel, with the main difference being that the large rear, side windows on the RV-5 could hinge upwards.
CQ-1 (1983)
The Toyota CQ-1 was produced in 1983, and was based on the Toyota TownAce. The CQ-1 was a concept in automobile communications technology; meaning the vehicle boasted advanced technology for the 1980s.[4]
The Toyota Palette was a concept vehicle made by Toyota in 1983. The Palette Y-2 was created in 1987, at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Y-2 was renamed the Toyota AXV-II. The Palette Y-3 was introduced in 1990, and was renamed the Toyota Sera.[5]
The FX-1 was a concept car by Toyota. It was first shown at the 1983 Tokyo Motor Show and also shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1984. It was a showcase for new technologies in driver controls, engine, suspension, materials and aerodynamics. Design cues from the FX-1 later ended up on the Toyota Camry XV20, built between 1996 and 2001.
The TAC3 was a 4WD concept car by Toyota, first shown at the 1983 Tokyo Motor Show. The driver sat in a central position, while two passengers sat behind in separate bucket seats. There was no roof but a rear roll bar provided roll over protection. The TAC3 was shown with a small trailer that also held 4 spare tyres on its towing arm. [6][7]
The AXV (Advanced Experimental Vehicle) was a concept vehicle by Toyota that was first shown at the October 1985 Tokyo Motor Show. Its goal was for ultra-low fuel consumption, to be under 650kg in weight and to have the same interior volume as a small sedan. [8]
The body was aerodynamically shaped, with Cd=0.26, while still seating four people. The bonnet, rear suspension arms and wheel rims were made from SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound), the roof was made from resin between steel sheets and the windows were made from polycarbonate resin.
The engine was a 1.1 litre 3 cylinder diesel. It used turbo-charging, direct injection and electronics to keep high performance levels while maintaining low fuel consumption.
The mid-mounted 2.0 L engine had both a supercharger and a turbocharger (with a ceramic turbine wheel), pistons made from magnesium fibre-reinforced metal (FRM), a distributor-less ignition system and a resin intake manifold.
The full colour computerised CRT displays had touch screens which could control the suspension, CD player, air conditioning, cellular phone and 8mm video display. Speed was projected onto a head-up display.
MR2 Group B Prototype (1987)
Toyota's MR2 Group B Prototype was introduced in 1987. It was based on the Toyota 222D, but with added rally features, and is RWD.[11]
The Toyota GTV (Gas Turbine Vehicle) was a concept vehicle by Toyota with a gas turbine engine. It was first shown at the October 1987 Tokyo Motor Show. [12][13] A very sophisticated concept vehicle, it was based on the Toyota Carina, and was in fact a proof of concept vehicle slated initially for small-scale production.
A measure of Toyota's intent with the vehicle was its allowing journalists from Car Magazine to review the vehicle in 1986. Their view was favourable with regard to the overall performance of the vehicle, although the natural turbine lag of the engine did hurt the overall impression of the review. The CVT automatic gearbox did however endear the vehicle to testers - this gearbox has now become the cornerstone of Toyota automatic gearboxes, and the basis of the Toyota Prius gearbox. The GTV was also reviewed by Popular Science magazine. [14]
The GTV used the Gas Turbine II engine. A one-stage turbine was used to drive the compressor while a second turbine was connected to the drive shaft. The second stage also took the place of the fluid flywheel (torque converter). Unlike the earlier Chrysler Turbine Car, the GTV had a de-coupled gas turbine (i.e. output was by a separate turbine) with a two-stage heat exchanger designed to reduce the exhaust gas temperature. The compressor turbine spun at up to 68,000 rpm while the output turbine spun at up to 65,000 rpm. A regenerator took waste heat and transferred it to the incoming air, increasing efficiency. The engine output was reduced by 10.13 before being mated to the gearbox, giving a maximum power of 148hp (110kW) at 5300 rpm and a maximum torque of 245.9lb⋅ft (333N⋅m).
Earlier versions of the Gas Turbine engine were shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1975 (in the Toyota Century) [15] and 1977 (free standing). [16]
The concept has butterfly doors and pivoted up to the front to allow passengers to exit from the car in places that ordinary conventional doors cannot handle. Gas filled struts kept the door in place when open. The doors covered the roof of the car as well as the sides, with the door glass forming part of the roof.[17]
The hatchback was made entirely from glass that included the rear sides of the vehicle in a similar manner to the early Mazda RX-7.[17]
Mechanical components (engine, gearbox, suspension) were the same as those in the Starlet.[17]
The AXV-II went into production as the Toyota Sera in March 1990.
The FXV-II (Future eXperimental Vehicle II) was a concept vehicle by Toyota that was first shown at the October 1987 Tokyo Motor Show. [13][17]
It had an all alloy, quad cam, 32 valve, EFI, 3.8 litre V8 engine. It used a prototype of the 1UZ-FE which was later used in the Lexus LS400 (some 1UZ-FE prototypes from about 1987 were the same size).[18] The radiator cooling fans were hydraulically driven under computer control.[17]
At the time, the drive train was Toyota's only 4WD system using a V8. The front/rear split was normally 30/70 but could change up to 50/50. A 4 speed electronically controlled automatic gearbox was used. Electronic Skid Control and Traction Control were included.[17]
The Pegasus (Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced SUSpension) was a prototype for the new Toyota TEMS suspension used on later Cressidas, Soarers and Supras.[17]
The FXV-II included 4 wheel steering and had a maximum speed of 260km/h (160mph) and a drag coefficient ofCd=0.26.[19]
The interior included GPS navigation and computerised CRT displays.[17]
Th body was made from resin and was shown in both open (no roof) and closed (with a roof) forms, although both forms had no doors. The front bumper sloped back and upwards, running into the cabin to form the dashboard. The rear bumper sloped forward and down, running into the cabin to form the side armrests. The construction was lightweight, being designed as a LSV for use inside shopping malls, hospitals and similar environments.
Zinc-bromide batteries of 106 V were used to power an AC induction motor. This gave it a top speed of 43km/h (27mph). When driven at 30km/h (19mph) it had a range of 165km (103mi). The batteries could be charged from a standard Japanese 100 V mains socket.
The Toyota Soarer Aero Cabin (Aerocabin) is a sports car based on the Toyota Soarer, and produced in 1987. It is a Japan only model, and 500 were produced. It is estimated that 490 are still in good condition. It includes an electric folding roof, power windows, power locks, leather seats, folding mirrors, keyless entry, digital dash, cruise control, and automated climate control. Its emblem is a horse with wings.[20][21][22]
The Toyota 4500GT concept debuted at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is a 2-door, 2+2 coupe that signalled Toyota's entry into the competitive upper-level luxury coupe class. Although the car's controversial styling was almost universally disliked by the show-goers at the Frankfurt show, its mechanical components were far more relevant, as they carried over much more closely to its production offspring than the styling did.
Toyota claimed the 4500GT was capable of transporting 4 passengers and their luggage comfortably at a speed of 300km/h (186mph). To achieve this, the car had to be both efficient, and powerful. The body's unusual shape (dropping snout, flat and abrupt rear end) yielded an extremely low coefficient of drag for the time period of Cd=0.29.
The power plant was quite impressive. A derivative of Toyota's then-new 1UZ-FE V8, the 4500GT boasted an additional 500 cc of displacement over the production unit, twin overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, and 5 valves per cylinder. This high tech masterpiece produced 220kW (295bhp) at 6600 rpm and 390N⋅m (288lb⋅ft) at 4800 rpm. This alloy V8 was mated with a 6 speed manual transmission, which was mounted at the rear with the differential to even out the front/rear weight balance.
The suspension used double control arms front and rear. The front utilized upper A arms and lower L arms, and the rear used upper L arms and lower A arms for increased camber to promote stability in high speed corners.
No acceleration testing was ever done on the car, but with 220kW (295bhp) and a curb weight of 1,450kg (3,197lb), the rear-wheel drive 4500GT could be reasonably expected to achieve 0–97km/h (0–60mph) in less than 7 seconds.
The 4500GT never made it directly to the showroom; however, it was the predecessor to the third generation Toyota Soarer (also known as the first generation Lexus SC). The Soarer/SC400 utilized a milder production version of the 4500GT's V8, a 4.0 L with 250hp (186kW). The styling of the Soarer/SC400 was in the eyes of many much more cohesive and attractive, and it went on to great commercial success on the mechanical backbone of the 4500GT concept.
The Toyota Camp Mate is a RV based on the Toyota LiteAce (TownAce). The concept was introduced in 1989, and was only ¥1,250,724. It features the regular LiteAce body, but includes an expandable side, adding an additional 0.9m (3ft) of space inside. The Camp Mate can fit up to 10 people, and has room for 2 beds, a small kitchen, a living room, and 1 bathroom. It is powered by the 2C 2.0 litre diesel engine, and uses 4WD.[23]
RAV-Four (1989)
Not to be confused with the Toyota RAV4, although the RAV-Four eventually became the RAV4.
The Toyota RAV-Four is a concept vehicle produced by Toyota in 1989, and shown at the Tokyo Motor Show. It entered production as the Toyota RAV4. In the front, it includes a retractable winch.[24][25]
The Toyota Celica is an automobile produced by Toyota from 1970 until 2006. The Celica name derives from the Latin word coelica meaning heavenly or celestial. In Japan, the Celica was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain. Produced across seven generations, the Celica was powered by various four-cylinder engines, and body styles included convertibles, liftbacks, coupés and notchback coupés.
A four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 or 4WD, is a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case providing an additional output drive shaft and, in many instances, additional gear ranges.
The Lexus SC is a grand tourer that was retailed by Lexus, and built from 1991 until 2010. It features a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first-generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6-powered SC 300 was added in 1992. Both first-generation models were produced until 2000. The second-generation model, the SC 430, went into production in 2001. The SC 430 features a hardtop convertible design and a V8 engine. The first-generation SC was largely styled in California at Calty, and the second-generation SC was mainly conceived at design studios in Europe.
The Lexus GS is an executive car manufactured and marketed by Lexus across four generations — launched in 1991 as the Toyota Aristo in Japan and as the Lexus GS for markets outside the Japanese market beginning in February 1993. It continued with the Toyota Aristo name for the Japanese market until January 2005.
The Land Rover Discovery is a series of seven-seater family SUVs, produced under the Land Rover marque, from the British manufacturer Land Rover, and later Jaguar Land Rover. The series is currently in its fifth iteration, the first of which was introduced in 1989, making the Discovery the first new model series since the launch of the 1970 Range Rover – on which it was based – and only the third new product line since the conception of the Land Rover by Rover in 1948. The model is sometimes called influential, as one of the first to market a true off-road capable family car.
A transaxle is a single mechanical device which combines the functions of an automobile's transmission, axle, and differential into one integrated assembly. It can be produced in both manual and automatic versions.
The Toyota Corona is an automobile manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota across eleven generations between 1957 and 2001. On launch, the Corona was Toyota's second-highest product in their range, just below the Crown. The Corona was marketed in the JDM at Toyota's Toyopet Store dealership channels, and the Corona was one of Toyota's first models exported to other global markets, followed by the smaller Toyota Corolla.
The Nissan Prairie is an automobile manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1981 to 2004. Considered a mini MPV or a compact MPV. It was also marketed as the Multi in Canada and the Stanza Wagon in the United States. In Japan, it was exclusive to Nissan Bluebird Store locations, then later at Nissan Blue Stage sales channels. The Prairie had a very flexible seating capability and sliding rear doors on both sides of the vehicle, with a liftgate in the back. The name "prairie" was derived from French which means an extensive area of relatively flat grassland, similar to "steppe" or "savanna".
The Toyota Century is a lineup of full-size luxury cars and limousines produced mainly for the Japanese market, serving as Toyota's flagship car within Japan; globally the unrelated Lexus LS series is Toyota's flagship luxury model. Production of the Century began in 1967, and the model received only minor changes until redesigns in 1997 and 2018.
The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV manufactured by Toyota mainly for the North American market since 2000 for the 2001 model year, being derived from the Tundra pickup truck. It is the second largest SUV ever produced under the Toyota brand, after the Japan-exclusive, military-focused Mega Cruiser.
The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota and marketed globally since 1984, across six generations. In Japan, it was marketed as the Toyota Hilux Surf and was withdrawn from the market in 2009. The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and little more than a Toyota Hilux pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, but the model has since undergone significant independent development into a cross between a compact and a mid-size SUV. All 4Runners have been built in Japan at Toyota's plant in Tahara, Aichi, or at the Hino Motors plant in Hamura.
The Toyota Sera is a 3-door 2+2 hatchback coupe manufactured and marketed by Toyota from 1990 to 1996. It was only officially sold in Japan.
The Toyota Carina is an automobile which was manufactured by Toyota from December 1970 to December 2001. It was introduced as a sedan counterpart of the Celica, with which it originally shared a platform. Later, it was realigned to the Corona platform, but retained its performance image, with distinctive bodywork and interior — aimed at the youth market and remaining exclusive to Japanese Toyota dealerships Toyota Store. It was replaced in Japan by the Toyota Allion in 2001 and succeeded in Europe by the Toyota Avensis.
The Toyota Auris is a compact car derived from the Corolla, manufactured and sold by Toyota. Introduced in 2006, the first generation three/five-door hatchback shared the platform with the E150 series Corolla, while the second generation five-door hatchback and station wagon called "Touring Sports" uses the E180 platform. The "Auris" name is based on the Latin word for "gold", "aurum".
The FX-1 is a concept car by Toyota. It was first shown at the 1983 Tokyo Motor Show and also shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1984. It was a showcase for new technologies in driver controls, engine, suspension, materials and aerodynamics.
The Toyota Crown Majesta is a full-size luxury sedan from Toyota. It is an upmarket variant of the Crown and serves as Toyota's flagship model in various countries.
Toyota concept vehicles produced between 1935 and 1969 include:
Toyota concept vehicles are transportation devices manufactured or designed by automobile company Toyota from 2000 to 2009. As their name suggests, these vehicles were concepts, and, as such, many were never released to dealerships. Many were developed in conjunction with other corporations such as Sony or Subaru.
↑ Edwin M. Reingold, Charles L. Martin (1983-11-14). "Tokyo's Wonder Cars". Time Magazine U.S. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
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