Geneva show: Toyota takes the i-Road

TOYOTA will reveal an open-wheeled, zero-emissions sportscar concept called i-Road at the Geneva motor show in March The company recently released a teaser image of the show car, which – in its own words – “has been conceived as a compact, fun and emissions-free personal mobility concept designed to offer quick and efficient urban transport for two people”.

The bird’s-eye image reveals an open-wheeled layout at the front, and a narrow passenger cell that seats a pair of occupants in single-file – as in the Renault Twizy.

Few other details are known, although Toyota’s reference to zero emissions indicates that the i-Road will sport a small electric powertrain, or – as an outside chance – a hydrogen fuel-cell system.

The i-Road will premiere at the Swiss show alongside the previously reported Toyota 86 convertible.

The hotly anticipated topless 86 will appear as a production-ready concept to gauge audience feedback, although the company has admitted it is already testing prototypes.



From top: Toyota FT-86 Open Concept teaser sketch Toyota Corolla Touring RAV4.

Also making its premiere in production form will be the British-built Auris (nee Corolla) wagon, about four months after it appeared as a concept at last year’s Paris motor show.

The sleeker new-generation model will go on sale in Europe later this year, but as we reported from the French capital last year, Toyota has no plans to add the load-lugger to its Australian line-up.

Toyota Australia launched the new-generation Corolla hatchback in October last year, without either the hybrid or diesel powertrains that are available in Europe. A sedan version is due to arrive in either late 2013 or early 2014, as previewed by the Furia concept at last month’s Detroit motor show.

Rounding out the Japanese giant’s Geneva contingent will be the European debut of its new-shape RAV4 compact SUV, following its global reveal at the Los Angeles show in November.

The new-look RAV, which is set to hit local showrooms later this month, will feature sharper, Corolla-inspired styling, a lower kerb weight, more cabin space and – for the first time – a turbo-diesel engine option.