One of the major sponsors of this year's Wired NextFest at Millennium Park in Chicago (alongside Xerox and Citi), Toyota had plenty to show off. A large portion of the show's rear floor was devoted to a fleet of concept vehicles focused on, like much of the automobile industry these days, fuel economy and sustainability. ADVERTISEMENT
The latest Prius concept, the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, is designed to stay in electric mode longer than its predecessors. The car can also be charged using a standard household three pronged outlet. According to Toyota, the latest rev of the company's popular green Prius line is due out in 2011.
Also on the four wheel side of the equation is the Toyota 1/X. This vehicle has the same interior space as the Prius, but weighs in two-third lighter, coming in under 1,000 pounds. That ultra-light weight lets the 1/X offer twice the fuel efficiency. The car is designed with rigid carbon fiber, which is reinforced by a plastic frame.
