Toyota FT-HT Yueija Is A Hybrid Not Named Prius

With nearly 20 million new cars sold in 2012, China represents far and away the largest automotive market on the planet. This has automakers around the world working to build cars specifically for the Chinese market, including Toyota, which introduced a six-seater hybrid concept that isn’t called the Prius. I wonder why?

The Toyota Prius is without a doubt the most popular hybrid car on the planet, and Toyota has sold over 5 million hybrid models since the turn of the millennium  The Prius is sold throughout the developed world, including in China, but the Toyota FT-HT hybrid concept does away with the Prius name entirely.

Instead, this six-passenger swoopy sedan utilizes the same Synergy hybrid drive system found in the Prius, but for an increasingly young and wealthy Chinese consumer. The design is definitely trying to appeal to a younger crowd, whereas your typical Prius owner tends to be at or around 50 years old. Toyota wants to get people half that age into their hybrids.

And they just might be able to do that with the FT-HT, which Toyota says will inspire an actual production car. In addition to being a hybrid, it also features three row seating, fitting six full-size adults. It’s definitely a cool idea, and a decent looking car. Is this a sneak peek at the future of Toyota design? If so, my only comment is “More please!”