The Toyota i-Road Is Unlike Anything You've Ever Driven

If this is Toyota's vision for the future, lets ride...

 

 

  Odds are, you've got to experience an all-new sensation. From a stomach dropping roller coaster to driving your first car, we've all experienced "butterflies". Toyota is giving butterflies to those awaiting news whether their three-wheeled, I-Road prototype, will hit the production line. 
The all-electric i-Road is one of Toyota's transportation answers for cities of tomorrow, which are projected to experience huge population growth in the coming decades.

  When you first start the i-Road, you first have to wait a few seconds as the gyroscope and accelerometers adjust themselves. This makes the vehicle wiggle. In motion, the i-Road uses the gyroscope and sensors to stay balanced while employing two features that create a truly distinct driving sensation: an active leaning system, and a caster-like rear-wheel hub that operates independently of the vehicle. Compare it slalom skiing; rhythmic side-side motion. Driving the i-Road is definitely going to be different than driving a car, with the gyroscope keeping the center of the vehicle balanced and the rear hub moving separately, turning in the i-Road is more like pivoting on a central axis. Even though the i-Road is built to go only 35 mph, that's still enough speed to make you feel like you're going to tip over heading into a corner. You won't. The engineers have worked hard to make sure that doesn't happen. The i-Road's lithium-ion battery charges using a 110-volt charging port located in a compartment just below the single-wiper windshield. A full charge takes three hours, and it has a range of about 30 miles. That's more than enough for most urban transport.

  If nothing else, the i-Road is an interesting engineering exercise, but it also makes a lot of sense as another option for people living in urban areas. Considering the positive feedback Toyota has received so far from its testing program, it sounds like there's a good chance the company will make some sort of production vehicle.


While you wait for the i-Road to "hit the road," you can shop our current inventory at www.smarttoyotaquadcities.com or visit our showroom located at 1501 East 53rd. St. Davenport, IA. 52807 where you can speak with a member of our Toyota Certified Sales Team. We look forward to hearing from you.