Toyota ME.WE concept

Toyota has unveiled the ME.WE concept, which has been developed in collaboration with French architect Jean-Marie Massaud.



The brief was to design what Toyota is calling an ‘anti-crisis’ car. But that doesn’t mean the ME.WE would be useful to have in a riot or zombie apocalypse; rather, it’s supposed to tackle ‘contemporary human, economic and environmental challenges’.



So there’s no doubting the ambition, which actually involved examining how cars could be built differently while offering multi-use practicality, low running costs, opportunities for personalisation and minimal fripperies.

As a result, the ME.WE doesn’t feature a traditional steel monocoque body. Instead, polypropylene panels are attached to a tubular aluminium structure and bamboo is used for the cabin floor, all of which keeps the weight down to just 750 kg (1,653 lbs).



For extra practicality, the rail-mounted rear bench seat can be removed altogether or stowed beneath the front seats. Luggage can also be carried on the roof beneath a neoprene cover, plus the cargo load space can be extended to give a pick-up truck effect.



Powering the ME.WE are four in-wheel electric motors that take their energy from an under-floor battery pack. Such a set-up means an all-wheel drive mode can be used when required.



The ME.WE is due to make its debut at Le Rendez-vous Toyota, Toyota’s brand experience centre in Paris. For now at least it remains strictly a concept, as there are no plans for a production version.

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- Wednesday, April 24, 2013