Toyota Teases Its Ballsiest Concept Yet, but Just Build One of These Things Already

If you haven’t already put off your regularly scheduled sleep tonight in anticipation of Tesla’s big ol’ semi, there’s a new reason to get excited. The third concept utility vehicle to emerge from Toyota’s fevered brain this year is here. Well, sort of.

As usual, we’ve been presented with a teaser shot. Get a load of these headlights! LEDs everywhere — even on the roof. And what a set of jutting wheel arches. Are they designed to scoop up would-be buyers?

So, the FT-AC (Future Toyota Adventure Concept) makes three. Three concept vehicles, each one brawnier than the last, one of which might be just the ticket for luring in those urban millennials with great jobs and husky dreams of outdoor shenanigans. Of course, that’s assuming Toyota is brave enough to build one.

The Adventure Bay Concept isn’t giving us much to work on. From this angle, and with its ride height obscured, the FT-AC could be a crossover or SUV or pickup. We won’t wait long to find out.

However, like with the previous concepts, the wait to discover whether Toyota plans to produce the thing will be much longer. Right now, Toyota’s just building up the buzz ahead of the L.A. Auto Show, where this concept officially debuts on Nov. 30th. It’s also trying — strongly — to cast off its reputation as a boring automaker.

We hear this concept in particular has a U.S.-market bent. That implies a large vehicle, not a diminutive crossover aimed at weekend campers with loungecore lifestyles. (Recall that this writer doused himself in gasoline and flicked a Zippo after reading that vehicle’s infuriating media release.)

Yes, the FT-4X concept didn’t make itself many media friends with that cringeworthy vision of millennial lifestyles run amok. The second concept, however, saw TTAC staff respond much more favorably. Despite its boxy visage and endearingly homely face, the endless utility of the TJ Cruiser concept’s commodious interior can’t be denied. Sliding rear doors on a non-minivan? Consider us intrigued.

To its credit, Toyota is at least entertaining the possibility of mass production, using the auto show reveals as a way of gauging public sentiment. For the TJ Cruiser, Toyota hints that the funky vehicle could get a green light. We’ll see whether the FT-AC is something worthy of hope.

[Image: Toyota]