Toyota’s Concept-i Vehicles Are Autonomous, Electric And Intelligent

As a true pioneer of efficient driving, Toyota couldn’t just show up to Geneva without busting out a few zero-emissions intelligent mobility solutions.

The Concept-i range is made up of a series of individual vehicles, the smallest of which being the Concept-i Walk, a Segway-like contraption aimed at pedestrians. It uses a three-wheel layout, while having the front wheel extending out at higher speeds. It even has electronic safety systems that help it avoid obstacles, plus a range of anywhere between 10-20 km (6.2-12.4 miles).

If you prefer four wheels, feast your eyes on the small Concept-i Ride, an urban vehicle that looks like a Smart ForTwo that just got back from the future. This funny-looking thing relies on AI to maneuver around autonomously, and according to Toyota, it can travel for anywhere between 100 to 150 km (62 – 93 miles) on a single charge.

As for the biggest and most impressive vehicle here, it’s the original Concept-i which Toyota first unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, last January.

Designed at the automaker’s CALTY research center in California, the Concept-i is meant to anticipate the needs of its passengers so as to improve their daily commute. The car can be driven both autonomously as well as manually, while the AI system, dubbed “Yui”, keeps a watchful eye over the driver’s inputs and overall responsiveness.

Apparently, Yui can use light, sound and even touch the passengers in order to communicate, using lights in the foot wells to signal whether or not the car is in autonomous or manual mode. Other features include the rear projector that warns about blind spot intrusions and the advanced head-up display.