TOYOTA has launched a new vehicle which combines the slickness of a sports car with a petrol-electric hybrid engine.
The car manufacturer launched its Future Toyota Hybrid Sports (FT-HS) concept today, and said the vehicle would provide both ultra high performance and ultra low fuel use and emissions.
Toyota's manager of product development Doug Soden said the new vehicle showed that hybrids could be made not only for the masses but from a sports perspective as well.
"There is a stronger need for hybrid vehicles to be on the market, or much more fuel efficient vehicles," Mr Soden said.
"Whichever way you look at it, whether it is a petrol-electric or hydrogen-electric, there needs to be that hybrid interface."
Produced by Toyota's research and design team in California, the FT-HS mates an electric motor to a 3.5-litre petrol engine. Toyota says its front engine, rear drive layout provides optimum performance, reaching speeds of 100 km/h in around four seconds.
"What we're able to do is use a smaller capacity engine in conjunction with the hybrid transmission and electric motor ... (and) give the same performance as a vehicle with a ... larger engine," Mr Soden said.
Bearing a resemblance to Kitt from the sci-fi TV series Knight Rider, Toyota design manager Nicolas Hogios said the car was a "mind-blowing design".
"It's very edgy ... a portal or a vision into the future for Toyota design."
Toyota corporate manager Greg Gardner said the FT-HS showed hybrid vehicles didn't need to be boring and conservative.
"As well as environmental benefits, they could also be fun to drive," Mr Gardner said.
He said there could be a day when a hybrid vehicle sporting a lightweight design was taking the track in a Formula One race.
"Particularly with European customers being very aware of the environment, a hybrid race car is the way to go. We've had the (hybrid) Supra win a 24-hour race in Japan, so we can just transfer that technology across to F1," Mr Gardner said.
The car will be on display at the Melbourne International Motor Show from this Friday.
However, those planning to head to their local car yard to pick up the vehicle, will have to wait a little while.
"This is really a concept car, so we'll judge reaction to that," Mr Gardner said.
"Toyota can turn a car around pretty quickly, so for this kind of vehicle we are looking four to five years down the track."
Mr Soden said there would be a day when fully electric vehicles had mass appeal, but it still might be some time away.
"There is a market in the future for pure electric vehicles. However, their usability is going to be quite limited from the distance you can travel, and from the infrastructure which you have to put in place in order to have a powerpoint to recharge the vehicle wherever you are," Mr Soden said.
"In the end, it will happen though, especially for metropolitan short distance driving."
Toyota unveils sexy new hybrid sports car
World’s first wooden car that is faster
Students at North Carolina State University have unveiled a wooden sports car, which can run faster than a Porsche or a Lamborghini, as part of their graduate project. Joe Harmon, head of the project, has revealed that the car has been named ‘Splinter’.
He says that it can produce 700bhp from its twin supercharged, 4.6 litre V8 engine, almost 300bhp more than a Porsche 911 GT3. The car has a top speed of 240mph, he adds. Joe has revealed that the two-seater has been made from a combination of maple, plywood, and MDF. It weighs 1,134kg, 240kg less than the lightweight Porsche.
Michael Jackson's Rolls-Royce for sale
Julien’s Auctions – which has previously dealt in The Beatles memorabilia – is hosting a seven-day Californian extravaganza in April auctioning off sculptures, art, games and cars from “the life and career of Michael Jackson”. A career which has seen him become one of the world’s most famous people.
Michael Jackson started out as the youngest member of the Jackson 5 – a five-piece family band managed by their father.
Marking himself from his brothers using his incredible singing voice, Michael Jackson quickly became the star attraction, and soon began forging out his super-successful solo career.
Pagani Zonda Cars Pictures
Origin: Italy
Price: $683,592
Top Speed: 214.4 mph
0-60: 3.5 seconds
When Pagani took the wraps off this convertible version of its flagship supercar at this year's Geneva Auto Show, it caused a noticeable stir. Built alongside the regular production version, the Zonda F is Pagani's tribute to five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio. While the F shares the same basic shape with all Zondas, it has new aerodynamic devices, an upgraded drive train, larger wheels, and ceramic brakes.
Glimpse to the Future Car Pictures
So this is obviously all fake, this could be a glimpse to the future. It would e cool to completely control a car with joystick and nothing else.
Modernization of sports cars has been unstoppable. The concept of the sports car generated by Enzo Ferrari's in 1929 was the beginning of the sports car industry. He was the one that lead the way for other car manufacturers to follow the design of the Ferrari sports car.
The great designs of the Ferrari are well known for their car racing success and the Ferrari is the most extravagant and successful racing team in the history of Formula One racing. Ferrari has produced cars that have fascinated the world with their versions of the sports car and have promoted drivers like Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari in the world-wide sport of car racing.
The F430 is the flagship of Ferrari. This sports car is a muscular two-seat coupe, which was reengineered last year. It has became the most sought after car this year because of its great performance and affordable price of $161,000 which is considerably lower in price then most cars in its class.
FOTO KARTIKA DEWI,ADIK SANDRA DEWI
The question is whether this cute girl to follow Sandra Dewi that previously popular in the entertainment world country? If you see a beautiful face and sexy body Kartika Dewi, then he is actually quite easy to get involved in the making of a soap opera, video clips and even movies. Therefore we wait deh beauty of this sweet girl glass screen Indonesia
PROFILE HER SISTER,SANDRA DEWI
Sandra Dewi with full name Monica Nicholle Sandra Dewi Gunawan Basri was a star model and also stars acting Indonesia.
Sandra likes to eat snakes and monkeys are known to the public so quickly through his acting in Quickie Express together with Tora Sudiro and Aming and having a deadline sinetron CINTA INDAH.
Born in Pangkal Pinang, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, August 18, 1983, the eldest of three brothers moved to Jakarta in 2001 to continue studying at the London School Of Public Relations.
Princess partner Andreas Gunawan Basri and this Erliani Chatarina started his career through the 2002 election and Miss enchanteur West Jakarta tourism ambassador. But then Sandra decided to concentrate in college.
Bloody girl Palembang, Tionghoa, Sundanese, and the Dutch began to decide the total in the entertainment world since becoming champion two Fun Fearless Female Majalah Cosmopolitan 2006. Where one of the jurors BERBAGI SUAMI directors, Nia Dinata.
Nia also later offered to follow Sandra and then casting the role of Lila in Quickie Express.
Through Quickie Express film, Sandra was chosen as Favorite New Immigrants star version of the Indonesian Movie Award (IMA) in 2008.
In addition to acting talent, Sandra began to pull the voice penetrated the world. Together with Dewi Sandra Luna Maya and Play single issue in order to welcome the Euro 2008.
FOTO HOT CIUMAN NIKITA "TAKE ME OUT INDONESIA"
In Indonesia Take Me Out run on Indosiar. This is the first time serving in Asia. Here, single people aged 20 to 40 will find a life partner.
Ayu was not just a stumble just Oktasari circulation problems of personal photographs on the Internet, similar cases now hit Ayu Oktasari own colleagues, was a member of Take Me Out Indonesia, Nikita. Just a difference if Ayu Oktasari circulating photographs really hot photos, while for her own exciting images limited only,
nikita who actually was and many hot photos already circulate some on the Internet and this makes many people want to know nikita hot photos followers Indonesia take me out of this.
And reportedly also a widespread about this nikita he was very open person about herself and her say if he wanted to have a rich boyfriend. He just wanted a man who could give him 20juta / month.With this nikita courage he became an idol and now hot photo sought nikita many people
Hot photos of her were already circulating widely on the Internet, but also strong rumors if it's done for the ratings boost TAKE ME OUT event presented by Indosiar. In response, the Indosiar firmly rejected.
"We must carefully first and must learn first, we must look to the future like what," said Gufron,Indosiar Public Relation.
Meanwhile, back Gufron explained, if it really be careful in dealing with cases of Ayu. He even explains details of the audition participants TAKE ME OUT.
