LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Long live new
adventures! With the Future Toyota Adventure Concept, or FT-AC,
comes the ideal versatility for living an active lifestyle,
allowing deeper exploration to take life's journeys even
further. FT-AC is a catalyst – it's both the invitation and
the medium for breaking day-to-day routines and embracing the
unexpected.
It's no coincidence then that FT-AC makes its debut at the Los
Angeles Auto Show, in a city where much of the population escapes
to the hills, deserts, or beaches for their much-needed weekend
recharges after a long week of work.
"FT-AC is perfect for those outdoor enthusiasts who want to dial
up the adventure on their weekend getaways," said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general
manager, Toyota division. "No matter the roads, the activities, or
the people, FT-AC sparks authentic fun and conversation."
Representing the next level in Toyota's adventure-loving lineup
of concept vehicles, FT-AC provides the right instrument for a wide
mix of excursions, be they on paved roads or not.
Fun on the Journey
FT-AC reminds adventurers of all skill levels how remarkable the
trip – not just the destination – can be. Going for a paddle on the
river. Climbing a favorite rock face. Hitting a trail on a mountain
bike. FT-AC is experience-centric. It compels. Any wheel time in
FT-AC brings genuine facetime with the friends aboard.
It puts versatility at the forefront of its ethos and, in doing
so, invites passengers to personalize - and accentuate - each trip.
Acknowledging that adventures vary in scope and scale, FT-AC's
innate versatility is a strength that caters to various lifestyles,
preferences, and even generations.
One-of-a-Kind Adventure
At first glance, it is evident that FT-AC's bold and daring
design reflects the confident spirit of Toyota's existing SUVs and
trucks.
The pronounced, wide, black front grille is flanked with bright
LED headlights. Fog lights brighten the road ahead during foul
weather or poor conditions and can even be taken out from their
pods and used as portable lights. The fog lights can be attached to
a mountain bike for occasional night rides. Below, FT-AC has twin
hooks for vehicle recovery. Skid plates help protect the short
front and rear overhangs, so rocks, ruts, and just about anything
else will have trouble slowing down the rig.
FT-AC was designed around a long wheelbase and wide track to
help emphasize its powerful stance. Extra wide fender flares
provide body shielding and look as if they float above the 20-inch
wheels and beefier all-terrain tires, both of which help accentuate
its commanding look. Its impressive footwear and generous ground
clearance provide drivers with more options as to where FT-AC can
go and play.
The safari-style cargo roof rack system can haul all types of
adventure gear. LED marker lights at its front corners can provide
ambient lighting around the vehicle, brighten the trail ahead or,
if desired, act as a flash for the side mirrors' embedded
cameras.
The infrared cameras on the side mirrors can record trail runs
and, like the fog lights, can be removed and mounted off-vehicle so
that no fun goes undocumented. An integrated Wi-Fi hotspot
automatically uploads footage to cloud-based storage where
real-time editing and posting can be accessed via mobile device.
The Wi-Fi connectivity even gives adventure-goers the ability to
livestream the fun to fans and followers.
The roof rack's rear-facing LED lights also aid nighttime
visibility and can be controlled via mobile device as well. Also at
the rear is an innovative integrated bike rack that retracts,
making for a highly useful feature that can be securely hidden in
only a few seconds. Lastly, drivers and passengers can utilize
FT-AC's geolocation capabilities for directions back to
basecamp.
FT-AC's contrasting colors combine Prospect Green with Fortress
Gray accents to highlight its go-anywhere brashness.
Envisioned Capabilities
Although currently a design experiment, FT-AC has been imagined
as a thoroughly capable gasoline-powered vehicle with an advanced
torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. This enables power to be
routed, as needed, for excellent controllability and maximum
traction. Variable terrain-response settings and 4-wheel lock
functionality build on its capability by managing traction control
and throttle response to maximize grip at each wheel for a more
dynamic driving experience.
And who says a hybrid vehicle can only play on pavement? FT-AC
could offer a next-generation hybrid powertrain that blends fuel
efficiency with rugged all-wheel-drive grunt, giving drivers better
power, responsiveness, and impressive fuel economy – all without
compromise.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the
cultural fabric in the U.S. and North
America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing
sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous
value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks
in North America, where we operate
14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more
than 46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800
North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost
2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 –
and about 85 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15
years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places. For more information about
Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Toyota Product Communications
Nate Martinez
+1 (469) 292-5753
nate.martinez@toyota.com
Josh Burns
+1 (469) 292-6449
joshua.burns@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America