Toyota to show up 7 concepts at 2008 Beijing auto show

Shanghai, April 7 (Gasgoo.com) Toyota Motor Corporation will display seven concepts involving both Toyota and Lexus brand at Beijing Auto Show, and six of the seven models, including i-REAL, IQ, FT-HS, TF108 and two Lexus models, will be showcased in China for the first time.

The Toyota i-REAL concept vehicle comes after the development of the PM, i-unit and i-swing. "It uses three wheels (two at the front and one at the back), in low-speed mode, shortening its wheelbase to allow it to maneuver naturally among pedestrians at similar eyesight height without taking up a large amount of space; in high-speed mode the wheelbase lengthens to provide a lower center of gravity and better driving performance," Toyota said.

But the i-Real only goes 18.6 mph at top speed.

Toyota iQ was first shown in concept form at Frankfurt last year, and will be produced in late 2008. Toyota is touting the iQ as the ultimate refined mode of transportation and at less than 118 inches in length, it's certainly small enough to be a devoted city runabout.

The iQ is called a 3+1, meaning it is capable of carrying up to three adults along with a child or luggage in comfort. The engine will likely be 1.0 liter gasoline, possibly with stop-start capabilities like the Citroën C2 when in production form.

Toyota will also present its FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept, a futuristic sports car that would be powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain. Reportedly to go into production in 2009, the two-seater will leverage the automaker's Hybrid Synergy Drive and a to-be-determined gasoline engine (the concept utilized a 3.5-liter V6).

Toyota Hybrid X

In addition, Toyota will show its latest advances in urban environmental transport solutions, the Hybrid X in combination with Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology, and a F1-TF108 sport car.

Hybrid X is designed as a four door, four seat open-space concept. It has the dimensions of a conventional family car with an overall length of 4,500mm and wheelbase of, 800mm. The width is, 850mm and height, 440mm.

Toyota F1-TF108 sport car

Lexus concepts will be unveiled shortly after this announcement.

According to earlier report, Toyota's popular compact sedan Yaris will also be released at Beijing Auto Show and launched in Chinese market simultaneously.
 
The company said it plans to sell 35,000 Yaris vehicles this year in Chinese market or approximately 6,000 vehicles a month.