18 Oct 07
Is this the next Prius? The 1/X concept has the same interior space as Toyota's current big-selling petrol-electric hybrid, but it's much lighter and smaller overall, reducing not only its carbon footprint but also the amount of room it occupies on the road.
The much improved packaging is made possible by the shrinking of the ever-evolving hybrid powertrain, which is located beneath the rear seat in the 1/X and drives the rear wheels.
The internal combustion engine has a capacity of just 500cc and can run on fossil fuel or bioethanol. It's supplemented by an electric motor and batteries that can be recharged from the mains, giving a much longer electric-only range.
The body makes extensive use of strong, light carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, bringing the kerb weight down to a barely plausible 420kg.
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