Toyota concept of the Swiss Army knife of cars
Toyota has unveiled a "no frills" electric car concept that it claims offers
the practicality of four cars in one.
The Toyota ME.WE concept, designed by the Japanese brand and European
industrial designer Jean-Marie Massaud, can be configured as a ute,
off-roader, semi-convertible or a city car.
The Toyota Yaris-sized five-seater is designed to be an eco-warrior, with
recyclable materials used through the body and the cabin. It features
weight-saving polypropylene body panels that save about 180 kilograms over
steel, a bamboo floor and dash, and a lightweight aluminium underbody.
It weighs just 750kg but despite its lithe kerb weight, it still features a
four-wheel-drive system. There's a bank of batteries under the body of the
car, and four in-wheel electric motors for constant propulsion, even on
slippery surfaces.
The name ME.WE stems from the car's apparent "concern for individual
freedom" (that's the 'ME' bit) and its "responsibility towards society"
(that's the 'WE' part).
Inside the ME.WE has a simple interior with polypropylene bench seats that
the company claims can be taken out of the car and used as picnic chairs. It
features a smartphone docking station, with an app for sat-nav guidance and
controlling the car's air temperature.
The back-end can extend into a ute-like tray for carting longer parcels, and
the roof section features a luggage hold with an expandable neoprene cover.
Toyota says the "wind-in-the-hair" experience of driving a convertible can
be had by opening all four large side windows and lowering the front
windscreen.
The car is on show at the company's Paris showroom on the Champs-Élysées
until June 12.
Toyota says it has no current plans for a production version of the ME.WE.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8599640/Toyota-concept-the-Swiss-Army-knife-of-cars
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