Since its establishment in 1973, Toyota has been a leader in creative automotive innovation. The talented team at Toyota’s design studios in California and Michigan has been responsible for many of the company’s groundbreaking designs that have shaped the future of mobility. Some projects move quickly into production, while others remain in the archives.
Regardless of their status, the ingenuity and brilliance behind these designs and projects deserve recognition. It’s never too late to celebrate innovation, and the following models are prime examples of exceptional excellence.
From a late 1980s future high-performance concept to the Baby Lunar Cruiser, the following designs and projects from CALTY Design Research (Calty) have not been seen before and are noteworthy. These cutting-edge designs have not only paved the way for today’s vehicles but have also served as inspiration for future designs.
Towards the end of the 1980s, the Calty team was on a roll, producing one radical design study after another, many of which were performance/sports cars.
The unique Future High-Performance Concept, created in 1989 and shown above, featured an engine that emerged from the body. With the push of a button, the mid-mounted powerplant raised from the vehicle, offering a cooling effect while driving. The two-cockpit design featured a driver-side windshield that could be completely closed when parked. This advanced concept embodied the flash and flair of the 1980s.
Prior to the widespread use of groundbreaking vehicles like the Prius and other electric vehicles (EVs), Calty created an EV concept to showcase what such a vehicle could look like.
Their design was a compact, lightweight vehicle with outstanding aerodynamic qualities for maximum driving efficiency. The energy-efficient vehicle, designed for city commuting, stood out with its wind-cutting profile and thin tires. Despite being purely an advanced design study, this car represented Calty’s initial venture into the EV genre.
Following the launch of the Scion FR-S, Calty was inspired to utilize the vehicle’s unique platform and package in a new way, incorporating the flat-4 engine and all-wheel drive.
Created in 2012, the conceptual study, the X86D, transformed the svelte coupe into a four-door shooting brake. The distinctively shaped rear end gave it a hot rod-like appearance from the side and rear.
The cabin, modeled after the cockpit of a race car, was designed to center around the driver. The low position of the boxer engine allowed for a low hood line, contributing to the design’s pure sports car aesthetic.
The 2012 NYC Concept was inspired by exploring future transportation trends in big cities. An internal project, it incorporated several unique and innovative features, including a “fence seat” for front passengers.
In this concept, front-seat passengers leaned against a support in a unique semi-seated/standing position, similar to leaning against a wall or a fence, offering the same eye level with pedestrians and increased eye contact near crowded walkways. The compact design with a distinctive vertical proportion was ideal for navigating busy streets, offering good utility.
In envisioning a capable 4×4 for the year 2030, Calty designers looked to the Lunar Cruiser for inspiration, a vehicle designed for driving missions on the moon.
The Baby Lunar Cruiser (BLC) is built on a conceptual EV platform with in-wheel motors powering all four airless tires. Its body was designed from an engineer’s standpoint, making every component grounded in reason and functionality. With a self-driving function and an augmented reality-based “drivetainment” system that converts the vehicle into an interactive video game, the BLC embodies futuristic off-roading. The AI system enables the BLC to perform tasks once thought impossible, making it a vehicle designed for both Earth and beyond.
Toyota’s continuous pursuit of improvement and innovation positions the company as a leader in mobility, well-prepared for the future.