Toyota FT-Me concept previews two-seat Citroen Ami rival
The new Toyota FT-Me Concept is a small, urban-focused, Citroën-Ami rivalling "micro car' that showcases the future of mobility, claims Toyota.
Dubbed a micro car rather than a quadricycle because of its claimed usability, the 2.5m-long EV is a signal of intent for the Japanese brand to move into the urban mobility space.
'This is a big piece in the wider mobility jigsaw,' said Stijn Peeters, its head of new mobility projects.
The concept will spawn a near-identical production model 'very soon' – as well as an array of other vehicles.
Pricing the FT-Me to be competitive with the £7695 Ami, Toyota is targeting those after a second runabout and teenagers wanting independence before they're legally allowed to drive a standard car.
As it's designated an L6e quadricycle, most European countries allow drivers aged from 14, although the UK doesn't.
The FT-Me's key is controlled by its owners' phones. Parents can set limits on when their children can access – and therefore use – the car.
It has space for two inside, or the 'light' passenger seat can be removed to create a storage space 1.6m in length.
The car is controlled by a square, almost yoke-like, wheel. In a nod to its 'mobility for everyone' mantra, it can be completely driven using said wheel, meaning those with disabilities – especially concerning their legs – can control it.
Its design was inspired by a helmet - to convey safety - and it's built from 90% recycled materials. A roof-mounted solar panel can add up to 19 miles of range per day.
Toyota said the FT-Me is 'affordable and easy to maintain' and claims the production car will have the best residual values in its class.
Full technical details have yet to be released.
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