Time Magazine names Toyota’s i-unit(tm) ‘coolest’
Time names Toyota’s 1-seat electric car ‘coolest’ innovation
NEW YORK, United States–Toyota Motor Corp. said Nov. 16 Time magazine has named its ”i-unit” four-wheel, one-seat electric car one of the ”coolest inventions” of 2005 as part of the magazine’s ”The Most Amazing Inventions” issue….
“Coolest”?!?!
The Toyota i-unit(tm) in the picture above is one of three models—the two others are the i-foot(tm) and the i-swing(tm). All three models have mega-tacky color schemes that are not “cool” at all. For example, the photo below of the i-swing(tm) at last month’s Tokyo Motor Show has it colored treefrog green on whitewall tires, charcoal gray body, funky fuchsia fade to white “hood”, and red on white pattern sides.
Yikes, now that’s some color combination.
Hmm, who was the designer? A colorblind 80 year old, Japanese farm grandma?
And as far as “invovation” goes, the prior art of Toyota’s i-swing(tm) transporter was the iBot, invented over a decade ago (from which the segway was developed).
NOTE: The i-Unit cannot be a sold as a “car” because it cannot pass any safety regulations. It could be reworked from a 4-wheel into a 3-wheel vehical so it could pass as a “motorcycle”. As it is now, the i-Unit is only legal as a golf cart for use on private property.
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November 21st, 2005 at 7:04 pm
No Road Trips for Toyota’s i-unit
Innovation, http://www.businessweek.com. Nov 20 By Chester Dawson
The electric-powered one-seat vehicle boasts impressive technology, but a short battery life and safety concerns make it less than streetworthy
A press of the palm starts up the rear-wheel-drive engine. Digital tunes are a couple of joystick clicks away. And there are no side mirrors to adjust — sensors detect any objects approaching from behind. Despite these unconventional systems, handling Toyota’s latest i-unit prototype in a test drive proved easier than expected. Not that I was intimidated by the horsepower — the top speed is around 25 miles per hour — but the futuristic model gives a whole new perspective to the term motor vehicle.
September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Segway Debuts in Japanese Airport
Sept 12, 2008 16:29 – Nikkei
…SGI Japan Co Ltd, the general sales agent of the Segway… has conducted the demonstration experiments of going on patrol on Segways in highly-public facilities such as Tokyo Big Sight and the Hitachi Seaside Park.
Currently, it is prohibited to ride a Segway on public ways in Japan by the Road Traffic Law….more…