At its yearly Kenshiki event in Brussels, Toyota also unveiled the FT-Me. This microcar concept represents Toyota’s vision for all-electric micro-mobility that “combines premium design with affordability.”
Inspired by the success of Toyota’s mobility solutions developed for the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FT-Me aims to address the evolving needs of city dwellers and the challenges of modern urban environments.
Like the Acessible People Mover (APM) used in Paris, the FT-Me has been developed by Toyota in its TME technical headquarters in Zaventem (near Brussels).
2-seater vehicle
The FT-Me is a compact yet spacious two-seater measuring less than two and a half metres in length. Its design emphasizes manoeuvrability, and it occupies only half a parking space and even one-third when perpendicular parking is available and admitted.
“Inspired by a jet helmet, the vehicle’s styling combines contrasting black and white bi-tone to convey a sense of safety, robustness, and a lightweight, go-anywhere attitude,” says the press release.
The FT-Me offers accessible mobility for people with entry-level driving licences, including those as young as 14 years old in some markets. Its versatility is designed to cater to diverse user needs, offering customizable options for young people and professionals. An innovative 360-degree visibility concept ensures maximum eye contact with other road users, enhancing safety and manoeuvrability.
The vehicle also has advanced connectivity features, allowing seamless smartphone integration for keyless entry and service provision. The FT-Me can be driven solely by hand commands (it has no pedals) on its innovative steering wheel, making it usable to wheelchair users without any aftermarket modification.
Sustainability
Toyota stresses that sustainability is evident in the FT-Me’s design. The vehicle maximises recyclability and uses recycled materials, aiming for a 90% reduction in carbon footprint compared to today’s city vehicles. The FT-Me’s efficient propulsion system (an electromotor drives the front wheels) consumes three times less energy per kilometre than a high-capacity battery electric car.
Additionally, the FT-Me features leading-edge solar panel roof technology that can charge the main battery, adding 20 to 30 km of range per day in urban settings, easily covering the expected daily usage. No details about battery or motor yet, but Toyota wants to offer a range of 100 km for its city micro-car, so it sees battery-swapping as unnecessary.
“Our FT-Me has a free range extender with its solar panel, so we see no need for setting up a swapping technology,” says Stijn Peeters, head of New Mobility at Toyota Motor Europe’s R&D center. “The FT-Me sits in the L6e category where people don’t need a driver’s license. The maximum speed is limited to 45 kph.”
The FT-Me concept embraces Toyota’s ‘Mobility for All’ philosophy. It wants to appeal to both younger drivers and those wishing to downsize in the changing urban landscape. “As cities evolve, the FT-Me provides a versatile, sustainable, and stylish solution and another step towards creating an all-inclusive mobility ecosystem for people, goods, and services,” Toyota concludes.
Competition grows
Urban mobility concepts like the Citroën Ami/Opel Rocks-e, the Fiat Topolino, the Renault Twizy successor Mobilize One, or the Micro Microlino will thus be challenged by Toyota once the product version of the FT-Me is ready. The precise date for this hasn’t been revealed yet.
All these competitors are also situated in the L6e category, except for the Microlino which was initially an L7e (top speed 90 kph, driver’s license needed) but now also offers an L6e variant. Stijn Peeters likes his new baby to be seen as a real car and a successor to the original Smart ForTwo rather than “a four-wheeler”, despite the categorizing in L6e. Would there be a chance for a ‘stronger’ version? Wait and see.
Comments
Ready to join the conversation?
You must be an active subscriber to leave a comment.
Subscribe Today