Looks, Looks, Looks

Over the years, Toyota has become renowned for producing futuristic and dramatic concept cars, and the designers at Toyota's European Design Studio, ED2, worked to ensure that the Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC) continues this trend. Its sleek, pod-like body conjures up images of a 1950s rocket ship -- even the seats have been mounted one behind the other to make the vehicle as slim as possible.


Photo courtesy Toyota
The MTRC features in-line seating.

Four wheels and a semi-circular nose cone protrude from the central pod, with headlamps and other accessories mounted on or flush to the surface of the shiny, metal body. In the picture below, you can see that the door opens flush to the side of the car, in keeping with the streamlined theme of the MTRC.


Photo courtesy Toyota

The cockpit itself is completely open, with only a minimal windscreen to protect the occupants from the elements. At the rear of the car is a large, curved spoiler, providing aerodynamic stability as well as a counterpoint to the front nose cone. Of course, the spoiler also adds a touch of style to the design, as does the central, mounted tail light in the shape of the Toyota logo.


Photo courtesy Toyota
Rear view of the MTRC

Why Triathlon?
The Motor Triathlon Race Car is designed to be equally at home in three different racing environments: a smooth, high-grip racing surface; zipping through the narrow streets of a city circuit; or taking the bumps of an off-road course.
Not everyone's wild about the MTRC's ultra-modern curves -- various journalists have described it as an overblown toy car, while Top Gear magazine complains that it's still not sure which end's the front. But then, the MTRC was designed to make an impression, and that's exactly what it has done.

It would be easy to imagine that the MTRC's looks are the most innovative thing about it, but there's far more to the MTRC than meets the eye. Even for a concept car, the MTRC is technologically advanced.

Technical Specifications
When it comes to technical specifications, the MTRC is tricky to pin down. Its basic physical attributes are merely a matter of measuring. Other specifications, however, are more complex. Toyota have not yet released details of the car's performance on the road. Top speeds, acceleration and fuel efficiency remain a mystery and, in all likelihood, will stay that way. A vehicle like the MTRC utilizes technologies that are still experimental and unlikely to provide the perfect performance Toyota would like us to see.

Here's what we do know:

  • Length: 406 cm (~160 inches)
  • Width: 193 cm (~76 inches)
  • Height: 133-148 cm (~52-58 inches
  • Wheelbase: 295 cm (116 inches)
  • Tread, front and rear: 160 cm (63 inches)
  • Number of seats: 2 (in tandem)
  • Body Type: 2-door roadster
  • Fuel-cell type: Toyota FC stack
  • Drive system: Four-wheel drive (Each tire has its own in-wheel motor.)