Toyota FT-CH (compact hybrid) concept, Detroit 2010 - cheaper, better MPG than Prius

[TexasCotton]

The slick and sleek design are nice with no antenna either. Just wonder how the road test would go and wonder if we will see GM Volt anytime in the future.

[RobertSmalls]

Aerodynamics would allow for a more agressively tapered roofline, but it appears rear headroom would not. At the front things look very good, though the car is begging for a grille block. I dislike the wheels, of course, but I like the fact that they're almost solid. Get the car-buying public accustomed to wheels that do not breathe, and introduce nearly-smooth wheels on the production version.

[Rokeby]

It looks like there is no rear hatch per se. I guess just the glass lifts up for
access.

I wonder what the silver/chrome bit is on the front lower corner of the front
doors. There is already a HybridSD badge on the fender.

The side mirrors are much smaller than is typical these days. They also
appear to have turn signals which would be a first for the Prius... even the
Scions have them though.

Wheel/tyres are right at the bodywork line; wheel skirts will have to extend
out from the bodywork.

The Circle-T on the rear appears to be 3D or stand proud from the back of
the enclosing depression. Rear hatch/glass release?
It's got a cute little rain gutter though.

All the white in the interior would be a bitc... er, bear to keep clean.

Suicide doors... and kids in the back? Imagine the possibilities...
I guess there would have to be some kind of positive locking when
the car is moving.

Has anyone seen a true overhead or straight-up interior shot?

This car looks to be a redesign of the Hybrid-X concept car of 2007.
If so, I suppose it represents a more "production ready" vehicle.
I like the Hybrid-X exterior better.

Hybrid-X; HOT!

[NeilBlanchard]

They are standard rear doors -- see the post about the handle being flush in the black part of the 'C' pillar. That and the shot of the rear seats makes sense only if they open normally, because you can see the door jamb.

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Just noticed how reminiscent it is of the VW UP! Lite, except 4 doors vs. 2. No?

As the shapes of car models become more aerodynamic, they will become more similar, differing only in the details. They converge around a kammbacked shape. Notice that the rear is very much like Citreon's C4:

Originally Posted by cfg83

In the first and third picture of the original post you can see a handle integrated into the black rear (door?) pillar :



I think this is similar to the Honda European Civic

And to the Alfa Romeo 156:



The FT-CH's seats look very light, but are they comfortable?