Toyota will take stage at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show with two all-new Concepts – GR HV Sports and Tj Cruiser. The former is a targa-top hybrid sportscar while the later is a lifestyle crossover concept.
First, the GR HV Sports concept. The GR HV is assumed to preview the next-generation 86 sports car. Since the layout is typical two-seater front-engine rear-wheel-drive. It is powered by THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System-Racing) hybrid powertrain as seen on the Toyota TS050 Hybrid race car. Toyota says the design too is reminiscent of the same WEC race car. Meanwhile the targa top harks back to the original Toyota Sports 800 (famously called as Yotahachi) and the iconic Supra.
The matte black body is complemented by LED headlamps scrounged from the TS050. The aluminium wheels and the rear diffusers too seem to have taken straight out of the hybrid race car. On the inside, there is a switch for automatic gear position is located in the center cluster. The push button ignition switch is located on the shift knob. The hybrid battery is mounted near the center of vehicle. Installing the heavy battery in the center contributes to improved performance, according to the Japanese giant.
On the other hand, the Tj Cruiser is a cross between a cargo van and an SUV. The "T" in Tj Cruiser stands for "toolbox" in reference to how the car can be used like a toolbox, while the "j" stands for "joy" in reference to the joy of visiting various places by car. The "Cruiser" is traditionally used for Toyota's SUV lineup. The Tj Cruiser is based on the next-generation TNGA platform. The powertrain is a 2.0-litre engine coupled with a hybrid system.
The square-ish design approach is coupled with SUV-sized suspension and tyres. The hood, roof and fenders employ scratch and dirt resisting materials. The square-shaped cabin accommodates completely flat reclining seats. There’s enough storing space for long items up to three meters in length such as surfboards.
In a typical van fashion, the backs of the seats and deck boards include numerous tie-down points. Moreover, the large opening of the back door makes for easy loading and unloading of large items. The sliding doors are provided for easy ingress/loading and egress/unloading of cargo and passengers.
