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[speculawyer]

Well . . . I guess it does look like Pac-man.

DETROIT – Toyota unveiled a new hybrid concept car that is smaller than the Prius and geared toward younger buyers, part of the company's hybrid and alternative-fuel lineup, which it is expanding over the next several years.

The Japanese automaker showed off the FT-CH compact at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, and it confirmed it plans to expand the Prius brand from a single vehicle to a family of hybrids.

The FT-CH could be sold under the Prius name, Toyota said.

The plan to broaden the Prius brand is a sign of its success and loyalty among buyers. The Prius, which launched in the U.S. in 2000, has long been the nation's top-selling hybrid and was the best-selling vehicle overall in Japan last year.

"The strategy is still taking shape and obviously it will require additional models to qualify as a family," said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, a division of Toyota Motor Corp.

Hybrids run on batteries and gasoline.

Toyota said the two-door FT-CH, 22 inches shorter than the Prius, is lighter and more fuel efficient and its styling, inspired by 8-bit video games popular during the 1980s, is intended to appeal to younger buyers.

The FT-CH, as a concept vehicle, has no official sales or production schedule.

The four-seat concept was designed by Toyota's European Design and Development center in Nice, France with an 8-bit mentality. That's not a put-down. It's actually the style that designers were going for with the FT-CH, and the press conference included references to Contra, Megaman and Super Mario Brothers.

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/11/detroit-2010-toyota-ft-ch-concept-is-the-priuses-younger-cheap/

:lol

That's what the kids are into these days . . . 8-bit videogames.

 

[Annihilator]

That's an ugly color. Doesn't look or sound to bad though, need to see it a different color.

 

[Deku]

That's what the kids are into these days . . . 8-bit videogames.

To address your point:

Most people in their 20s, who would be buying a subcompact would have grown up with 8-bit videogames.

Most 'kids' these days would still be 5-10 years away from buying their own car. So there's a few years yet before we get cars with giant machine gun mounts.

That said, I need to see more on this car to see the connection to 8-bit games.

 

[JWong]

It's not blocky enough to be of the pixel 8bit era. =/

 

[BobTheFork]

I hate that color but otherwise I would drive it. I like Toyota and I want to get a hrbrid.

That's what the kids are into these days . . . 8-bit videogames.

Kids aren't going to buy a new hybrid.

 

[sk3tch]

speculawyer's spell checker . . . 'powered by 8-bit processor'

 

[jooey]

At least make the hubcaps more like this

 

[KevinCow]

It's not blocky enough to be of the pixel 8bit era. =/

 

[Goldrusher]

I was expecting another boxy Scion.

 

[Mileena]

I'd drive that thing in a nice black or silver. That color is terrible but the car looks surprisingly decent.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

To address your point:

Most people in their 20s, who would be buying a subcompact would have grown up with 8-bit videogames.

Most 'kids' these days would still be 5-10 years away from buying their own car. So there's a few years yet before we get cars with giant machine gun mounts.

That said, I need to see more on this car to see the connection to 8-bit games.

Dawwwwwww

 

[Tellaerin]

It's not blocky enough to be of the pixel 8bit era. =/

 

[JoeBoy101]

I need this car, because my commute into work is a bitch:

 

[ZealousD]

Looking at this car, it looks nothing like 8-bit video games.

That being said, given the right price (and color) I would buy this.

 

[inner-G]

Day 0

 

[grandjedi6]

This story gets even more absurd when you realize what motivated it.

 

[Davidion]

I have to say, I do find the car strangely attractive.

 

[Grayman]

seems that concept cars like this always look very different from any production car that comes out of it.

 

[robox]

that color is awesome.
i'd drive it as is. make this the production form!

 

[sixteen-bit]

I'm in love with the ideas, but not so much the styling (much like their Prius).

 

[bjork]

Not at all what I was expecting. Looks nice, though.

 

[baultista]

Square pixel steering wheel or bust.


Anyways, that paint job looks like something out of one of those tuner racing videogames... it's really nice to look at, but it's the kind of thing you'd be ashamed to be seen stepping into or out of.

 

[painey]

One of these was driving in front of me today (twat of a driver too) and I thought "what a boxy looking p.o.s"

 

[MrOctober]

I'd drive that thing in a nice black or silver. That color is terrible but the car looks surprisingly decent.

Agreed.

 

[stuminus3]

No good to me unless it has machine guns and oil slicks and shit.

 

[tok]

Wow, the Aveo shrunk! It was a life sized blue one when I first replied!

 

[Ranger X]

Good God.

How about simply making good looking hybrid or electric cars? Maybe people would actually buy them.
Why is that all new tech and bio cars need wierd looks?

.

 

[speculawyer]

I need this car, because my commute into work is a bitch:

:lol

 

[anachronous_one]

Only thing that immediately comes to mind is Space Invaders, when you look at the windshield, headlamps, and black elements of the hood as one shape.

 

[Mockingbird]

:lol

 

[KittenMaster]

That looks more like something I'd see in 2015 than in 1985.

 

[jakonovski]

One of these was driving in front of me today (twat of a driver too) and I thought "what a boxy looking p.o.s"

What were you driving?

 

[Eric_S]

Yeah well ... no, not interested in the slightest.

But their concept animation has got a catchy tune, so that's allways something I suppose

 

[Mar]

I really like the look of this thing. I'd certainly consider it when buying my next car if they release it.

 

[Joei]

It's an interesting car I guess. Those headlights look kind of funky though and are placed in a very odd spot. Same thing with the tail lights too. Looks different, that's for sure.

 

[red shoe paul]

A Scion XB is way more looking 8-bit than that. Looks like trash.

 

[Scythesurge]

Pixelated car pic is amazing.

 

[spats]

But their concept animation has got a catchy tune, so that's allways something I suppose

Sweet!

I really like the look of the car, but it's certainly not everybody's cup of tea.

 

[Brandon F]

I'll wait for the 16-bit model.

 

[Michan]

The shape is really interesting. I love how they've done the stylised windscreen/drivers windows. The hub caps are nice, too.

But that colour looks like vomit.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

Yeah well ... no, not interested in the slightest.

But their concept animation has got a catchy tune, so that's allways something I suppose

Well, when the car goes through the tunnel it definetly looks like something out of TRON, maybe thats what they were going for.

 

[eso76]

came here expecting moon buggy's buggy or bump'n'jump car. or i don't know, something like the one in city connection.

There's nothing 8 bit-ish about this car. But i do find it attractive, and the colour is perfect. Black, silver or white would defeat the purpose, in fact.

 

[Link Man]

Yikes at that interior:

 

[Gattsu25]

One of these was driving in front of me today (twat of a driver too) and I thought "what a boxy looking p.o.s"

What were you driving?

Great question.

painey, well?

 

[UrbanRats]

I'll wait for the 16-bit model.

Wait for the 32 bit then, at least you gonna get a full 3d car.

 

[Nemo]

Would drive in black

 

[radioheadrule83]

Yikes at that interior:

I like it, it looks like the inside of a Transformer or something

 

[Gino]

It looks crazy but I like the Idea of using light weight seats and other things to improve efficiency and reduce cost.

 

[UrbanRats]

Yikes at that interior:

Looks like a toy.. but i guess that's the point.

 

[radioheadrule83]