Monday 23rd February 2004

Toyota MTRC

Toyota get a bit creative...

---

Like a full-size remote-control toy buggy, the wacky Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC) is Toyota's response to future customer demands (and you thought everyone wanted more cup holders and a pie warmer...).

The tandem two-seater combines off-road ability, sports car performance and motor sport derived high technology.

The MTRC was designed and built at Toyota's European design studio, ED² . It is propelled by four in-wheel electric motors powered by a Toyota fuel cell stack, enabling the stylists much more freedom when designing the shape of the car than a conventional internal combustion engine and four-wheel drive transmission would allow.

MTRC has been conceived from the outset to compete in three different environments, as if in an automotive triathlon: off-road, race track and city street circuits. That combination of tracks might seem unusual, but it is common place to the millions who play car racing computer games.

No surprise then that the MTRC will be available to ‘drive‘ in the upcoming Gran Turismo 4 , the latest version of the popular video game. Visitors to the Toyota stand at the Geneva Motor Show (4 – 14 March) will have a chance to try a preview of the game featuring the MTRC.

[chickensoup]

.....offers off road ability? looking at the tyres & ground clearance, I bet I could get further in a Tesco shopping trolley.
Which end is the front?

[cobaltdawn]

I was thinking the same thing, that thing will bottom out on speed bumps let alone off road.

[daydreamer]

I guess something like this will have active syspension though (no springs and dampers that evident on the pictures), so to go off road, it could simply jcak itself up. Having in the wheel motors means that there is no limit to the ground clearence that it could achieve ).

Tires for off road use and the track could be a different problem though - looks like service stops between races!

[Lotusacbc]

Pretty damn cool if you ask me. Smart too, in wheel motors!

Id buy one, if I was rich of course

[Stig]

The axles can rotate from the body of the car for additional clearance. If you look at the side/front profile you can see what I mean.

[RobDickinson]

Isnt having heavy electric motors in the wheels going to do wonders for handling..?

[murcielago]

We'll see how it handles in GT4 at least it would be a bit realistic.

[forrestgump]

Why not a Caterham?

Go off road in this thing? No chance!
Do you like a face full of mud?

[windandwave]

I love it...

...but I'm still waiting for the Lexus from Minority Report



>> Edited by windandwave on Monday 23 February 22:02

[madmike]

Very cool car. I'd fancy one.

[jacobyte]

Mr Dickinson has the right idea. Heavy motors in the wheels will be a right bastard on the unsprung weight. Looks like the way forward though if it can be made practicable.

>> Edited by jacobyte on Tuesday 24th February 13:01

[goo-goo-gjoob]

0-60 in 5,764.2gigabytes