This Geneva motor show concept outlines Toyota’s vision of a hybrid family supermini for 2020. The FT-Bh, which stands for ‘Future Toyota B-segment hybrid’, offers a claimed fuel economy of 134.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 49g/km. It is powered by a two-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine, developed specifically for the concept and mated to a special version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive electric motor, which is almost 90kg lighter than in the Prius.
The FT-Bh is a similar size to the Toyota Yaris, while the car’s shape is optimised for aerodynamic efficiency, with a 0.235 drag coefficient, which is below the current average for a supermini.
Whereas the 1.0-litre Yaris weighs 1030kg, the FT-Bh tips the scales at just 786kg thanks to the use of high-tensile steel, aluminium and magnesium in the construction process. Toyota has also focused on thermal efficiency, low driving resistance and a reduction in the amount of energy used by the car’s electrical components.
The FT-Bh has also been conceived as a CNG-powered car or a plug-in hybrid, with the latter producing 19g/km of CO2. Although the FT-Bh is a show concept, it has been developed using existing motor industry technology that would, in theory, enable it to be produced at a competitive price for a high-volume B-segment supermini.
It is more likely that the lightweight, fuel-efficient thinking behind the FT-Bh will be seen on future cars.
Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the stage in San Francisco Wednesday to announce a new iPad. In fact, he just called it simply "the new iPad." It will have a quad-core chip, "retina" high-resolution display, a 5-megapixel camera and 4G LTE networking for fast connection on Verizon Wireless and AT&T.
The product will have the same pricing as the previous generation, starting at $499. It will be in stores on March 16, but pre-orders start today. Apple will keep the iPad 2 in the picture:
There will be a 16GB iPad 2 for $399, and a 3G version of that for $629. There are no longer any 32GB or 64GB versions of the iPad 2. The new iPad's display has 2048 x 1536 pixels. That's over 3.1 million pixels, "the most ever on a mobile devices," says Phil Schiller, worldwide marketing boss.
Where previous A Class models have been objects of practicality, with tall bodies and surprising space for relatively small vehicles, the new model is aimed straight at rivals like the BMW 1series, Audi A3 and Lexus CT 200h. That means a new, sleek body shape, with what M.Benz calls "emotive design". It now looks dynamic and aggressive where the previous models looked slightly awkward, and it should appeal to male and female customers alike. The A Class moves from a one-box to two-box design, and the roofline is now around half a foot lower than the previous model. Space hasn't been sacrificed though, and a sporty, high-quality interior now brings the A Class closer to its larger brethren than the previous model ever got. A new range of gasoline and diesel engines makes an appearance, ranging from a 1.8-liter turbo diesel with 109 horsepower, to the 211-horsepower A250 with its turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder. The most economical units dip under the all-important 100 grams per kilometer of CO2, that makes the car eligible for tax breaks all around Europe. All engines have ECO start/stop as standard, and most will be available with a choice of either a 6-speed manual transmission, or Mercedes' 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic. Like other recent Mercedes models, there's technology aplenty. Safety and assistance systems take center stage, with adaptive headlights, speed limit assist, blind-spot warning, a reversing camera, collision-prevention, and PRE-SAFE occupant protection. The latter ensures that, in the case of an accident, the car is in the most suitable state possible for protecting the occupants--closing windows, pulling the seatbelts tighter and more. All those features were once exclusive to models like the S-class, so their appearance on Mercedes' smallest car is a mark of just how far car safety has progressed in the last decade. Importantly, this will also be the first A Class to go on sale in the U.S. The launch date hasn't yet been confirmed, but it's expected to go on sale some time next year. For Mercedes-Benz fans wanting to downsize, the 2013 A Class looks like quite a tempting proposition.
