Toyota’s Prius has a pretty enthusiastic fan base. It has become almost synonymous with the world hybrid. But now, Toyota is looking to create something new that will entice the hybrid fans out there. Enter the Toyota 1/X, the car that - according to the press release “redefines from its very roots the idea of what it means to be environmentally considerate”. Strong words, indeed.

The key here is weight. Toyota is using a reinforced plastic for the body frame that’s reportedly stronger (and of course, much lighter) than metals traditionally used in cars. Lighter seats and a roof made from bio-plastics also help get the car down to an impressive 926 lbs (420 kg). As a result, the fuel efficiency is twice that of the Prius. The car also saves weight by never carrying more than 4 gallons of fuel…which is fine, since those four gallons will take you over 600 miles.

Another big focus on this car is comfort and openness. The whole thing seems to be made of windows. Apparently, the roof insulates heat effectively, is translucent, reduces noise and gives the driver back rubs on long drives… well, maybe not the last part.

All in all, this seems like the perfect hybrid. Of course, concept vehicles often seem perfect. We’ll have to see when/ if it actually gets to market.

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