New Toyota vehicles come few and far in between these days. Aside from the pricey hachiroku revival (GT-86), there’s little Toyota is teasing us about. Unless you count this – the NS4 concept.
Unveiled at the Detroit motor show, the NS4 concept is an “advanced plug-in hybrid concept” which features the Hybrid Synergy Drive – the same tech Lexus will be using for all new hybrids. The styling also previews what Toyota envisions its future hybrids to be.
However, aside from the green stuff, the NS4 concept features a connectivity interface that’s much like a smartphone. The system controls everything from climate control to the batteries charging. The car’s also packed with safety features such as pre-collision and blind-spot monitoring systems, adaptive headlights and around-view camera systems.
I’m not really too sure about all this smart car interface. For some reason, I still take joy over analog stuff in a car. But hey, this is a Toyota hybrid we’re talking about. People who would be buying it would be the same people who think the iPhone/iPad are the coolest things ever.