Toyota FT-Bh Hybrid Concept: Geneva 2012

Toyota FT-Bh Hybrid Concept

The Toyota FT-Bh Hybrid Concept at Geneva is yet another Toyota Hybrid Concept, this time a lightweight City Car.

It’s the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, so it’s time for Toyota to roll out yet another Hybrid Concept, this time it’s the turn of the FT-Bh Concept which is a small hybrid – more or less Yaris-sized – that Toyota claims makes use of viable methods and materials in its construction. Do they normally use non-viable materials and methods?

With it’s odd proportions and ungainly stance, the FT-Bh is definitely from the  ’Look at me – I’m green’ school of car design. Ugly may be too harsh, but it’s not a looker.

Toyota has kept the weight of the FT-Bh down to a very creditable 786kg, which considering the hybrid powertrain weighs more than the 3-pot in the Yaris, is no mean achievement.

That powertrain is a two-cylinder 1.0 litre Atkinson lump with an electric motor and batteries and can deliver 134mpg and 49g/km thanks to the low weight and slippery shape. Toyota don’t tell us what the performance is like, but don’t expect fireworks.

Toyota also point out the potential for the FT-Bh to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) when emissions would drop to 38g/km, or as a plug-in when emissions would be 19g/km. Take those figures with a big pinch of Maldon’s finest.

All very clever and entertaining, but does it have to look so bad? And how much more economical would it be with just the 1.0 litre 2-pot and not the weighty, expensive and complicated HSD gubbins?

(18 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK