Together with the Toyota FT-Se sports battery electric vehicle (BEV) at Japan Mobility Show 2023, Toyota has unveiled the Toyota FT-3e – a concept EV crossover that shares similarities with the FT-Se. The FT-3e appears to be about the size of the Toyota bZ4x, albeit with a much sleeker overall design.
Toyota has not revealed many technical details on the Toyota FT-3e, but the design itself is a rather interesting topic to begin with. Toyota says that the FT-3e is a next-generation BEV concept model that “will enrich customers’ daily lives with new driving experiences and personalized services powered by innovative technologies”. One innovative technology that stands out on the FT-3e is its external digital screens positioned on the front doors.
As seen on the Toyota FT-3e, the digital displays on both sides of the car provide information that includes battery charge, onboard temperature, and interior air quality as the driver approaches the car. The displays have an “L-shaped” design from the lower side body to the upper door area. The horizontal part of the display is a battery state-of-charge indicator. There is also a “BEV” lettering displayed on it,
As for the exterior design, Toyota says that the FT-3e’s design “combines both advanced styling and aesthetics while keeping the lines and surfaces that make up the body as simple as possible”. Some design elements that contribute to this include the flush front door handles, the lack of door handles on the rear doors (touch-based operation), really small side view cameras (placed above the external digital screens), an overall clean and simple lines. Just to give you a context of the FT-3e concept’s size, it sits on a set of 22-inch wheels.
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Inside, the FT-3e is invaded by digital screens with a total of 7 screens alone (if we’re not mistaken) in the first row itself. There is the usual head unit and digital instrument cluster screens, but there is also a screen on the upper part of the dashboard, two screens for the side view cameras, the rearview camera screen, and another two screens placed sandwiching the steering wheel. We’re not quite sure how overwhelming this would be when you’re driving at night.
Otherwise, the Toyota FT-3e sports a minimalist interior design, with a very clean-looking centre console. nothing too crazy in terms of the steering wheel design here.
Like the Toyota FT-Se, the FT-3e aims to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality (and creating a better world) by connecting to society as a transfer medium for energy and data from the vehicle and its surroundings. When not in use, it can contribute to the local electricity grid.
With minimal technical information, the design and idea of the FT-3e become the subject of focus. Does the naming signify the end of Toyota’s bZ series? Will it be the basis of many more electric cars from Toyota? We have yet to find out.
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