Toyota FT-CH hybrid

11th January 2010

The Prius is getting a younger brother! Toyota has taken the wraps off the FT-CH Concept in Detroit – a smaller and cheaper alternative to the groundbreaking Prius.

Based on the more upmarket Lexus LF-CH, the newcomer hasn’t yet been confirmed for production, but it’s hard seeing a showroom version of this car not being a success. Not only would it be positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Prius, but like the Honda CRZ it would appeal to a younger audience, too.

WATCH A VIDEO OF THE FT-CH IN ACTION HERE.

The styling is said to be inspired by the ‘8-bit’ generation of the 80’s, and the clean retro lines are certainly a success. But more important is the fact that this car is designed to be lighter, and therefore more efficient than the Prius.

The FT-CH also part of Toyota’s plan to sell a million hybrids a year from the early 2010’s onwards. To achieve this Toyota has pledged to launch eight completely new hybrids over the next few years.

Although it’s been revealed at the North American show, it was designed at Toyota’s European Design and Development centre in Nice, France.

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