Toyota to premiere five concepts in Tokyo

Toyota is the latest carmaker to announce the contents of its show stand for the upcoming Tokyo motor show, with five new concepts being unveiled.

The latest development of the Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) Concept will make its debut – previewing a production model that could launch next year – alongside concepts exploring the future of taxis and compact MPVs. We'll also see the introduction of the FV2 (Fun Vehicle 2) concept, which Toyota says is designed to capture its ‘fun-to-drive' philosophy, and the Aqua G Sports concept.

The four-seater FCV Concept's front end features pronounced air intakes, while an air-to-water theme is seen in the flowing liquid profile of the doors, a wave pattern on the filler cap and a rear inspired by a catamaran's stern. It measures in at 4,870mm long, 1,810mm wide and 1,535mm high and sits on a wheelbase of 2,780mm.

A single-seat urban mobility concept, the FV2 relies on the driver shifting their body weight to change direction, go forwards and reverse. It's 3,000mm long, 1,600mm wide and is 990mm high in sleep mode and 1,780mm in driving mode with a wheelbase of 2,360mm. It can detect and connect with other vehicles nearby as well as use voice and image recognition to determine the mood of the driver and suggest frequently visited destinations. It also changes its exterior color while an augmented reality (AR) display can be presented on the windscreen.

The five-seater JPN Taxi Concept is a next-generation model designed around Japanese-style hospitality and measures in at 4,350mm long, 1,695mm wide, 1,700mm riding on a wheelbase of 2,750mm. It's designed for easy passenger access with large, electric doors and a low, flat floor. Inside, information such as the route to the destination and the fare is presented to passengers on a large monitor, while air conditioning and lighting have been optimized to make the JPN Taxi as comfortable as possible.

The Voxy and Noah Concepts are seven-seat compact MPV models for the Japanese market, and production versions based on these concepts are due for launch early in 2014. Designed around a theme of ‘emotional space', the emphasis is on the spaciousness of the interior. The front of the Noah is designed to convey sophistication, while the Voxy features aerodynamic parts to highlight its low center of gravity and wide body.

It will also show the Aqua G Sports, a five-seater sports conversion of the Aqua hybrid supermini that has been tuned by GAZOO Racing. A market version is scheduled for launch in the Japanese market in late November.

To check out more pictures of the JPN Taxi Concept, click here for the gallery.

By Rufus Thompson