There is something fascinating in seeing how the big car manufacturers are progressively shrinking their ambitions. Don't get me wrong: I'm not talking about a lack of vision, but about a physical, dimensional contraction, which could represent the most intelligent answer to the challenges of contemporary urban mobility. Toyota FT-Me, just revealed from the Japanese house, is the emblem of this new direction: an electric quadricycle just 2,5 metres long, weighing 425 kg and with a maximum speed of 45 km/h. “Small” numbers that might turn up the noses of supercar enthusiasts, but which tell a story of evolutionary adaptation to modern cities, increasingly hostile to traditional cars and increasingly hungry for space for people.
Toyota FT-Me, a vehicle that challenges urban conventions
Have we finally reached the point where the big car companies have realized that cities are changing? Stan Peters, responsible for the planning and development of New Mobility at the R&D division of toyota europe, seems to think so. According to him, Toyota is exploring the micromobility space precisely to adapt to cities that are dedicating more and more space to pedestrians.
It's not just a question of small size: is a complete rethink of what it means to move around in an urban environment. The Toyota FT-Me takes up half a parking space, can be driven even by fourteen-year-olds without a license and offers 360 degree visibility which makes it ideally maneuverable even in the tightest spaces. And then there's that solar roof, which adds up to 30 km of range after a day in the sun. Of course, I wonder if it is really that efficient or if it is more of an exercise in style; but it's an interesting attempt to make the vehicle a little more self-sufficient.
Accessibility and flexibility as a mantra
What I find particularly interesting about this concept is the attention to accessibility. The FT-Me can be driven entirely with manual controls, allowing even those who cannot use their legs to drive it. In addition, the passenger seat can be removed to make room for a wheelchair or folding bicycle.
This flexibility also extends to commercial use: with the passenger seat removed, you can load boxes up to 1,6 metres long. Toyota envisions the small vehicle being used by delivery drivers as part of a managed fleet, or by parents who want to remotely manage when and where their children drive.
The competition is already fierce
Let's not fool ourselves: Toyota is certainly not the first to explore this segment. The Toyota FT-Me will have to compete with already established competitors such as the Citroen Friend (64 km of autonomy at around 9.950 euros), the Dogood Zero (80 km starting from 7.760 euros), the Extreme Ballpoint Pen (54 km at 14.225 euros), the Fiat Topolino (76 km at 10.760 euros) and the Duo Mobilize (which replaced the Renault Twizy in 2023, starts at 10.800 euros and promises up to 160 km).
Toyota will have its work cut out for it to carve out a slice of this increasingly crowded market. It will have to get its price and running costs right, and I wonder if that solar panel will actually be a selling point or just an added cost that will push the price up.
Yet, despite all these doubts, I can't help but hope that Toyota will actually bring this concept to the streets. Because sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones, and maybe all we need to get around the city is this small, intelligent quadricycle.
