Toyota 1/X Concept: Fractions, But a Whole

This is the Toyota 1/X, a radical minimalist concept car that could give a hint to the future of motoring from Japan’s biggest automaker. The car, which by the way is pronounced “one-xth” (as in a fraction), is all about paring things down to reduce weight, in an effort to minimize fuel consumption without losing interior volume or comfort.

Key to the 1/X’s design are the materials that it is made out of. Instead of ultra high strength steel or aluminum, the 1/X is made from reinforced plastics, which is a common material for body panels, but unusual for a chassis. This is one of the key ways that Toyota has kept the weight way down; the total curb weight is just 925 lbs, one third of what the Prius weighs. One concern with building a car as light as this is with regards to safety, as its low mass could easily be tossed around in an accident by an SUV or a big car. It’s something that Toyota has taken into consideration, no doubt.

Despite being more of a monobox and rather naked looking (check out the doors, and the clearly visible structure of the roof), the 1/X is smaller than the Prius. Its styling is extremely simple, and mostly unadorned for that matter, with the exception of light bars that run across the front and rear of the vehicle, comprised of dozens and dozens of individual units. Overall, the 1/X is narrower and lower than a Yaris by small amounts, and in terms of overall length it’s just 0.6 inches longer than the B-segment hatchback. Nevertheless it can seat four in comfort.

By keeping the weight down, Toyota was able to fit the car with a much smaller engine than normal. If you thought that the Prius’ 1.5-liter engine was small, you might be surprised to find out that the I/X’s engine is 500 cc, two thirds smaller than what the Prius offers up with half the cylinders. Besides being small, the teensy engine is a flex fuel design, and it is backed up by Toyota’s next generation hybrid drivetrain system that features a plug-in adapter to increase its electric range. Incidentally, the 1/X has a predicted fuel economy that is 50-percent better than the Prius. And here’s something else, the 1/X features a mid-engine layout that powers the rear wheels. Perhaps it’s just us, but a lot of manufacturers, from Mitsubishi to Volkswagen are considering engines aft of the passenger compartment for regular, non-sports cars.

As the environment becomes a bigger and bigger concern, innovations such as the ones found in the 1/X will grow in importance. It may sound odd, look odd and be made up of odd materials (for a car), but we haven’t seen the last of it.