Unveiled at the Geneva show, this funky-looking subcompact concept is said to showcase a new version of Toyota’s successful hybrid propulsion system that’s lighter and more compact than the setup currently at work in the Prius. Toyota claims the new powertrain, plus other key elements, add up to dramatic fuel-economy potential: 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers on an unspecified driving cycle, or 112 mpg. FT-Bh stands for “Future Toyota B-segment Hybrid,” and like Mazda’s Skyactiv technology, it embodies a holistic, total system approach to engineering and design. Toyota cites five key tenets: powertrain efficiency, mass reduction, thermal-energy management, electrical efficiency, and optimized aerodynamics. Like many hybrid setups, the powertrain mates a gasoline engine with an electric motor. But the engine in the FT-Bh is a long-stroke 1.0-liter Atkinson-cycle two-cylinder with a 13:1 compression ratio, and the lithium-ion battery pack is about half the size of the nickel-metal-hydride battery pack employed in the Prius’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system. The net result is a system that’s almost 200 pounds lighter, according to Toyota. It also incorporates other operational efficiencies, including reduced parasitic losses in elements such as the timing belt, an electric water pump, reduced friction in cold operation, and reduced cooling system volume. Weight reduction isn’t limited to the powertrain. The engineering team whittled industriously at every element of body-shell mass, using an undoubtedly expensive mix of high-tensile steel, aluminum, and magnesium. While such a blend would be costly for a production car, it does demonstrate what can be achieved. The FT-Bh weighs in at just 1733 pounds, according to Toyota. For contrast, a Toyota Prius C tips the scales somewhere around 2600 pounds. Although the little five-door hatchback is somewhat similar in philosophy to the Prius C, the FT-Bh is considerably slipperier. Substituting cameras for conventional side mirrors helped in this regard, as did fastidious wind-tunnel work. The resulting car is styled, says Toyota, according to stylistic themes known as both “Under Priority” and “Keen Look,” which are gibberish. (A third theme, “Ecomotion,” also is mentioned in the press materials.) We’ll call it “fish head, stomped on top.” This concept is far from pretty, clearly having sacrificed beauty on the altar of efficiency. But however you feel about the aesthetics, the resulting aerodynamics are said to be stellar, to the tune of a 0.235 coefficient of drag, compared to the 0.29 the company reports is common to cars in this class.
NEW TOYOTA FT-BH HYBRID CONCEPT AND BODY SPORTY - YouTube |
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