By Rebecca Boyle Posted 11.22.2011 at 1:05 pm 3 Comments

Plug-in Prius The Prius plug-in hybrid makes its Japanese premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show. Toyota

Without a doubt, the best part of an auto show is the test drive — you can sink into the cushiony driver’s seat, behold the beautiful control panel, feel the steering wheel slip comfortably between your fingers. At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, that won’t happen. Test drivers will sit in the back seat of an autonomous Prius, letting the car drive them around by itself. It’ll probably be worth the back seat view.

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Cars, Rebecca Boyle, auto show, autonomous cars, driverless cars, future of cars, plug-in hybrids, prius, tokyo motor show, toyota
Next week’s auto show will boast plenty of futurey features, but none tickles our fancy as much as the idea of a driverless Prius, not owned by Google, taking showgoers for a spin. Toyota calls the car the AVOS, for Automatic Vehicle Operation System, and will let show attendees hop in the back seat as part of an exhibit on cooperative vehicle systems.

Plenty of automakers are working on smarter car technology, ranging from driver-assist capabilities to vehicle interlink systems to true autonomy. It will still be a few years before these cars hit the road, but probably not very long, if their presence during auto show season is any indication.

The AVOS is a self-driving version of a Prius that can come to its driver when summoned, avoid obstacles in its path, and safely park itself, according to Toyota. The carmaker will also demo other vehicle-cooperative systems and safety features.

Other features include something called a Smart Mobility Park, which will serve as a charging station for plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, and a H2V (Home to Vehicle) management system that controls charging times for an EV. Toyota will debut its FT-EV III electric vehicle and FCV-R hydrogen fuel cell car, and host the Japanese premiere of its plug-in Prius.

The Tokyo Motor Show opens to the public Dec. 3.

[Toyota via Gizmag]

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3 Comments

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-my name here-
11/22/11 at 4:55 pm

not very long till they hit the road, huh?
forgive my skepticism, we've had fully autonomous cars "coming soon" for over 60 years now. not to mention hydrogen fuel cell cars would be out in ten years, about 30 years ago.

still, I think this is the first time a fully autonomous car will have been in a car show, so that's something.

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Grunt
11/22/11 at 10:31 pm

USA Manufactures of autos, you are just so screwed up with greed and dealing with your greedy unions; you are missing the mark completely. Opportunity falls in your lap and you just miss it. YOU NEED TO MAKE A PRODUCT YOU ARE PROUD OF FIRST AND LET IT SELL ITSELF. Instead you continue to focus on sales to force an inferior product.
GROW UP and GET SOME PRIDE AND FAITH IN YOURSELF!

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padma kumar
11/26/11 at 1:16 am

General Motors lost due to the egoistic belief in their marketing prowess. The primary role of marketing in getting customer feedback changed to that of taking over and selling inferior products.They failed to record the VOC and imagine the CDA(car dream aspirations) of the customers in each segment. So is the case with Renault/Peaugot. The worst is when the US government, instead of letting the ineffecient die to make way for better car firms, pumps tax dollars into the black hole.
I think they should take my consultation to put things in the right perspective (ahaaa) . I really feel bad for the US automobile industry eventhough there is a glimmer of hope in Fords' recent change in thought process.
Thanks padma kumar



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