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Toyota reveals important clues about the future of driving

toyota tril concept teaser
toyota tril concept teaser

Toyota

While most automakers are pumping out SUVs, Toyota is looking to go smaller.

The Japanese automaker unveiled its i-TRIL concept car at the Geneva Motor Show that ran March 9-19. The futuristic two-seater is meant to showcase a “viable alternative” to traditional segment cars for people who typically drive in urban environments, Toyota said at the time.

Toyota doesn’t have any current plans to produce a version of the i-TRIL, but the concept shows how it’s researching different transport options for city dwellers. Scroll down for a closer look:

Toyota’s i-TRIL concept is a compact electric car that seats two. It features butterfly doors and Toyota’s Active Lean technology, which is designed to improve maneuverability.

Toyota first showcased its Active Lean technology in its i-ROAD concept in 2014, another compact electric vehicle. Toyota’s Active Lean allows the car to slant at an angle of 10 degrees by automatically moving the wheels up and down during turns.

Toyota says the car’s leaning ability improves stability and grip while decreasing the risk of car sickness.

Toyota trialled its i-ROAD concept in Tokyo and Grenoble, France in 2014 to test its Active Lean Technology and get a sense of how people responded to using a compact electric vehicle in a car-sharing setting.

Like the i-ROAD, Toyota’s i-TRIL is part of the automaker’s ongoing research into viable transportation alternatives for urban driving in 2030. Toyota is exploring using compact vehicles for personal and shared mobility services, but there’s nothing concrete yet on when we could see the vehicles in a real-world setting.

The i-TRIL has no pedals and can be controlled using left- and right-hand control nodes. But the concept can also drive autonomously.

The i-TRIL also comes with an artificial intelligence assistant that allows passengers to control the infotainment system using voice control. Toyota said the vehicle has an “aspiring driving range” of 200 kilometers (124 miles.)

The i-TRIL was designed by Toyota Motor Europe and the company’s design studio, ED², which is based in Nice.

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