Automakers have been toying with the idea of single passenger vehicles in an attempt to reduce emissions in urban centers, and Toyota's Coms is one such example. The company is showing off a new concept version based on this ultra-compact, single passenger electric vehicle dubbed the "Smart INSECT" at CEATEC JAPAN 2012 this week. Short for "information network social electric city transporter," it would connect the home, vehicle, and people in new ways through Toyota's cloud services.
The Smart INSECT's cabin features flashy gull-wing doors, and incorporates new features like face and voice recognition. Motion sensors and cameras recognize pre-registered drivers as they approach, and will greet him or her with blinking lights, sounds, and messages from the instrument panel. It also anticipates the driver's intentions by tracking body movements, such as opening doors automatically when the driver reaches for them.
The interior features a large display above the steering wheel, which provides a detailed GPS navigation system. This is connected to the cloud-based Toyota Smart Center, which hosts a virtual agent that can provide navigation instructions via voice command.
As user data accumulates in the cloud, the system learns the driver's preferences and common destinations, such as "home" or "office." It could also make suggestions – from restaurants to playlists – based on personal tastes, and allow owners to lock up their house or activate the home's air conditioner on the way there.
The Smart Insect is just a concept for now, but the regular Coms gives us an idea of its capabilities. Priced at approximately US$10,000, it can achieve a top speed of 37.5 mph (60 km/h) and has a range of about 31 miles (50 km). Toyota says it's sold around a thousand of them so far, but it seems we'll have to wait until a breakthrough in battery technology before vehicles like this become practical outside of Japan's dense urban centers.
Though I like the styling of the Toyota's Smart Insect (weird name btw), it seems like A LOT of money for such low performance and only ONE seat.
The Renault Twizy has two seats and better speed and mileage for about the same amount of money.
-There's no reason to use the more complex gull-wing style doors when there are two other tried-and-true door mechanisms in use in millions of vehicles (typical door, and sliding van door). -The wheel wells are so tight, there doesn't appear to be any suspension travel. -Automatically opening the trunk is an unnecessary expense and luxury in what is apparently meant to be a commuter vehicle. -The whole front is clearly designed to look cool, rather than be aerodynamic. -It's far better to provide a tablet docking area that comes with a cheap, basic tablet serving as little more than a dashboard, rather than something totally integrated which cannot easily be serviced or upgraded. -The open spaces on the side create a lot of drag and turbulence, reducing efficiency.
Bottom line, if this is going to sell, it has to be as cheap as it is effective, and as stylish as it is simple. Relying on flashy gimmicks like gull-wing doors and a trunk that opens when you wave at it will get Toyota nowhere.
I feel it would be better for them to start with a basic, fundamental design that works well (efficient, stylish, enjoyable, & cheap), and THEN add features like driver recognition in later models, or through a tablet/smartphone app that gets updated.
"-It's far better to provide a tablet docking area that comes with a cheap, basic tablet serving as little more than a dashboard, rather than something totally integrated which cannot easily be serviced or upgraded."
This, so much this. The first car company to let people dock a standard tablet (and replace upgrade that tablet later) is going to make huge waves.
Second best is the Volkswagen NILS, but I think that's just another concept car. For about $10,000 they were blowing out 2011 Smart Cars, I'd have a smart car over the insect.
Brilliant thought. I look forward to tablet dockable cars, where enhanced functionality is handled by the tablet and is easily upgraded.
I concede drag & weight are less important with such a low speed, but still no attempt was made to address these two fundamentals. (I assume, because I can see the first, and no mention was made of weight.)