Toyota released a new 4WD crossover concept at the New York
Auto Show the other day that received mixed reception. The reception of the
vehicle may have been more neutral or even resoundingly better had it not been
for the cringe-inducing annotations directed towards millennials. Toyota conducted research on the outdoor habits of Generation Y aged
professionals and concluded that they enjoy impromptu excursions that
involve no planning and normally dont last too long. These results couldn’t be
more ambiguous, but they certainly sound valid. So, they get a pass.
Forgetting the disconcerting marketing that accompany the
vehicle, Toyota genuinely created something commendably unique and worthwhile here.
Taking a look at the side, you can clearly see the body was designed in ‘X’s,
and is abound in bulky geometric angles that emanate a rugged appeal. Contrary
to the FT-4X’s rough design; the suspension and powertrain would be less hardy
than one might anticipate, as this is decidedly a ‘casual-core’ oriented
vehicle over a performance vehicle.
The rear bumper has two tie-down loops, as does the front.
The roof is flat, and sports four additional tie downs and an electrical outlet
at each corner. The rear is where the FT-4X starts to satiate our outdoorsy
expectations. The large, rear
encompassing hatch opens itself both horizontally and vertically, featuring a
nifty handle that rotates to select the preferred mode of opening. Inside the
hatch are two boxes- a cold box for perishable foods and a warm box for things
like blankets and wet gloves.
The inside offers a useful layout, where everything you see
likely serves a secondary purpose. Theres a mounted light that detaches and
works as a flashlight and the dashboard detaches to be used as a boombox. All
compartments are color coded based on whether they are lidded or open; hence
the water bottle door handles are blue and the waterproof, mesh compartments
are all orange. The best hidden gadget in the FT-4X cabin is within the
armrest- a North Face sleeping bag!
