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We'd already seen a lot of what Toyota was planning to bring to the Tokyo motor show, including the GT86-based hybrid GR HV sports car, the TJ Cruiser concept (and we love the fact that TJ stands for Toollbox Joy), and the electric, intelligent triplets of Concept-i, i-RIDE and i-WALK.
The Fine Comfort Ride concept is rather interesting, although not for its looks. In fact, it looks rather as if a Toyota Urban Cruiser has been smacked up the back by the Batmobile, with those odd bat-ears at the rear of the roof.
The idea, though, is to take a crack at a new kind of luxury saloon, one that is designed from the inside out. So, the Fine Comfort Ride is actually a little wider in the middle than it is at the front or the back, maximising space and comfort for those riding in the back seats.
It's a hydrogen fuel-cell car, but different to Toyota's existing Mirai in that it uses in-wheel electric motors at each corner, with the fuel-cell mounted up front and the hydrogen tank under the floor. That flexible layout is what has allowed the unique body shape, and Toyota is making some pretty impressive power and performance claims for it. How does 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, and a one-tank range of more than 1,000km grab you? It also takes about three minutes to fill up, says Toyota.
Needless to say, it's autonomous. You can either select fully autonomous mode and swivel the drivers' seat around to chat to those in the back, or you can drive as the system keeps an eye on things and steps in to help if it detects you're getting into trouble.
Toyota's also showing off a concept hydrogen bus called the SORA (an acronym for Sky, Ocean, River, Air - representing the earth's water cycle). Using a hydrogen fuel cells similar to that in the Mirai saloon, it has high-def cameras watching each corner so that the driver can see vulnerable road users around the bus, and with its 600-litre hydrogen fuel tank and external power coupling it can even be used as an emergency power generator, such as in the aftermath of one of Japan's frequent earthquakes.