Toyota mulling mass production for Toyota FT-4X Concept - Report
Would rival the Jeep Renegade.
Toyota introduced the Toyota FT-4X Concept at the 2017 New York Auto Show last week, indicating Toyota's continued interest in the B-segment crossovers. Speaking to Automotive News, Toyota officials have suggested that the company is mulling production plans for the Toyota FT-4X Concept.
"Would I like to see something like this built?" Absolutely," said Jack Hollis, Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota (brand, North America). He indicated that the concept is not so radical that it can't reach the production stage. The New York International Auto Show is "a starting point for a discussion on a very doable vehicle", he added.
The Toyota C-HR has a modern and athletic design, while Toyota FT-4X concept has a traditional boxy design aimed to appeal the opposite set of buyers. It's a case somewhat similar to the previous generation Jeep Compass and the Jeep Patriot.
"I always imagined like the C-HR is the city mouse and FT-4X is the country mouse," said Iab Cartabiano, Studio Chief Designer, Calty Design Research. Mr. Cartabiano was a part of the FT-4X Concept's design team and leads the design operations at the Toyota's design center.
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As speculated in October when we reported the concept's trademark filing, the 'Toyota FT-4X' name stands for "Future Toyota"-Four-Wheel Drive Crossover. Reports at that time said it was the succession plan for the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
The Toyota FT-4X Concept is based on the TNGA-C platform, which underpins the Toyota C-HR and Toyota Prius too. It measures 167.3 inches (4249.42 mm) in length, 71.7 inches (1821.18 mm) in width and 63.9 inches (1623.06 mm) in height, and has a wheelbase of 103.9 inches (2639.06 mm). Toyota hasn't released details on what's lying under the hood, but it's likely that the potential production version could share the C-HR's engines.
[Source - AutoNews.com]