Toyota FT-EV III Concept Previews Scion IQ Electric Car: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood

Proof that Toyota is serious about launching its own electric car is the FT-EV III Concept, unveiled today at the Tokyo Motor Show. The third in a string of such concepts this will be the last, as the near-production vehicle shows. A telltale sign of the vehicle’s roadworthiness is an interior not unlike that of a production model, sporting design cues from other Toyota products, while adding unique EV touches.

Using a lithium-ion battery pack mounted below the floor and with an electric motor, Toyota claims a total driving range of 65 miles with room for four. Toyota refers to the FT-EV III (Future Toyota – Electric Vehicle III) as a “near future” concept and we expect to see a production version, branded as a Scion iQ EV sold in the U.S. next year.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-EV III Concept

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 Tokyo Motor Show Coverage here

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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  • Bubba Nicholson Bubba Nicholson on Nov 29, 2011

    The bottom should be just as smooth as the rest of the car. Duh. The wide open wheel wells drag the car backward, so does the square rear of the car. Closing the wheel wells and putting a boat tail on the vehicle would make it bigger AND more energy efficient.

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