Skip to main content

Toyota teases FT-Bh concept, plans on bringing the whole concept family and more to Geneva

Toyota is bringing along a host of hybrids and cool concepts to the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Japanese automaker will be showing off no less than four concepts and hybrids, some of which have yet to make a debut outside of Japan.

Making the trip to Europe will be the Yaris Hybrid, GT-86, FT-Bh concept, NS4 and FCV-R concepts, and the Toyota diji (previously shown at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show as the Fun-Vii and one of our best concept cars of 2011).

Newest among Toyota’s experimental lineup is the FT-Bh concept. The mysterious new concept, which we only have a teaser photo of, will make its world debut next month in Geneva and offer show attendees a glimpse at what Toyota is labeling a “full hybrid city car study.”

Toyota’s FT-Bh is interesting on a couple levels. First, based off  Toyota’s remarks of it being merely a “study” the FT-Bh will most likely never make it to production. Second, while it may never see the light of day, Toyota has designed the FT-Bh in an ultra-efficient and inexpensive manner. Unlike most concept cars, Toyota’s latest experiment doesn’t make use of expensive materials or complex future technology that would generally keep it from making the leap from concept to production.

So why would Toyota build a concept that is built on an economically viable framework, poised to achieved low emissions, and essentially screams “build me” without any actual intention of bringing it to market? Well, we’re not entirely sure, but we wager should Toyota receive an overwhelmingly positive reaction for its FT-Bh concept, it might not be unlikely that we see something similar put into production down the road.

Amir Iliaifar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations
The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more