Aside from the much-talked about Toyota Urban Runner, another Toyota masterpiece was introduced at the ongoing Chicago Auto Show, North America’s largest auto show. 

Popularly known as the Toyota 1/X, (pronounced as “one-Xth”) the vehicle was named after its mass, fuel use and emissions output, which totals to that fraction compared to other vehicles of the same class. To give you an example, its 500 cc flex-fuel engine, a part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain weighs only one quarter than that of a Prius.  With this, it could travel up to 600 miles using a small four-gallon tank fuel bearing an acceleration performance similar to that of a Prius.  Also, its ultra-lightweight aerodynamic feature is claimed to be just one-third than that of Prius - maybe a bit more than the weight of an Acura multi rib belt, however having equivalent interior space.

Another appealing quality of the Toyota 1/X is its aerodynamic shape and cabin design that is exclusively designed to allow passengers’ better visibility as well as sense of liberty with the surroundings.

The Toyota 1/X is another product of Toyota’s “green” concepts.  Reports from autobloggreen.com said that bio-plastic derived from kenaf and ramie plants compose the 1/X’s roof resulting to improved heat insulation, less carbon dioxide emission, reduced noise along with increased natural light passing through the cabin.   Meanwhile, its ultra-lightweight seats offer greater comfort because it was made out of polyester fiber, creating a cushion-like feel. 

Not only that, aside from being eco-friendly, the Toyota 1/X is also pedestrian-friendly for it uses non-glare headlights through the light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system that aids in eliminating glare coming from headlights.  It is also equipped with light wheels that prevent splashing on wet situations.

The Toyota 1/X was first introduced last year during the Tokyo Auto Show.