2024 Toyota LiteCruiser: Electric concept wins design gong
A future electric four-wheel-drive from Toyota just won an award for its innovative design.
The Toyota Compact Cruiser EV has won the 2022 Car Design Award for Concept Vehicles, despite tough competition.
While yet to be confirmed by Toyota, it’s believed the concept is a preview of what could be badged the LiteCruiser – a small electric four-wheel-drive set to arrive in the coming years, offering a battery-electric alternative to the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler and the rumoured Suzuki Jimny Hybrid.
While Toyota referred to the vehicle as the Compact Cruiser EV at its debut at the electric vehicle showcase in December 2021, images show the model using the LiteCruiser name on the digital instrument cluster and rear number plate.
The Car Design Awards named the Toyota Compact Cruiser EV as the winner in the concept car category, beating out other finalists such as the Audi Skysphere, Lexus Electrified Sport, Polestar O2, and the Porsche Mission R.
The Ferrari 296 GTB won the award for best production car, and Polestar took out the best brand design language.
While the Compact Cruiser EV clearly takes its inspiration from previous-generation LandCruiser models such as the FJ40 and FJ Cruiser, the vehicle interprets these design elements for a new, battery-powered era.
“This project revives in the electric era one of the most iconic Toyota off-roaders, promising a future production compact SUV with a strong appeal,” a spokesperson for the Car Design Awards said at the announcement.
“All the design details are meant to express all-terrain credentials in a contemporary shape. A rugged and modern utilitarian product that is also desirable, a hard feat to achieve.”
The Compact Cruiser EV was created by the Toyota Europe Design development centre based in France.
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