The Toyota NS4 is said to preview a future Prius – but not really. Although the family resemblance is there, and the NS4 is unequivocally a plug-in hybrid, the NS4 is the same size as a Prius, but is explicitly separate from the rest of the Prius range, according to Toyota corporate mouthpieces.
Toyota revealed zero in the way of mechanical details, not even specifying what kind of battery technology or powertrains would be employed. The car may even turn out to be a Lexus, since this is just a concept and not a “Toyota brand concept”. Of course it will be smaller, lighter, more efficient and have a greater range, but until this car reaches production in 2015, it’s all hot air.
the version here in Detroit appeared to be front-wheel drive since it grabbed the ramps and pulled them under the car as Toyota people were driving it up onto its perch. It fell. Then it took a few minutes to screw all the ramps together to get it up on the stand. Good to see car-guy inginuity in action – this time using wood screws instead of duct tape – but they got it where it needed to be.
Ha! Some proper pith-helmeted journalism there, love it.
It actually looks semi-ok … wonder who did the exterior design? Can’t be Toyota!
Everything in front of the A-pillars is a derivative mishmash of other makes. I see Fiat/Alfa, Subaru, BMW and even the garishness of Acura. Nevermind the Civic-like tiny front windows and rake to the windshield…
Just about everything in the world as we know it is a mishmash of various other things. Music, art, conversations, car design. If you think about it, there are very few original thoughts.
In fact, 99.8% of what I just wrote and will write was something I read somewhere……..
Toyota moves from bland design to bug design. Sure it’s a mashup but from the front this thing is scarily anthropod. Cockroach design to mirror Toyota’s cockroach-like reliability?
If you took the badges off this thing I’d swear it’s a Honda Civic concept.
Oops!
I like it, it’s definitely got some character. I like cars that inspire people to either hate or love them, blandmobiles are not my favorite vehicles.
Looks like an angry insect, but otherwise nice. Although no rear headroom because Real People don’t sit back there.
http://sandkembroidery.com/zencart/images/angry%20ant%20patch.jpg
Not bad looking but looks to be a sedan so it’s out of the picture either way but I DO like the color though.