The Toyota NS4 Plug-in hybrid concept has its world premiere today at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The Toyota NS4 concept previews a mid-sized four-door sedan which could go o sale sometime in 2015. Toyota says about the NS4 that it "targets" the next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system. We're not really sure what does this mean. Does it have the new generation of the hybrid drive, or not? Maybe the Japanese carmaker can clarify this later.
The Toyota NS4 features a distinctive exterior styling, which manages to keep some resemblance to the current Prius. However, the overall look of the NS4 seems much more appealing than its hybrid predecessor.
In terms of technology, the NS4 features Toyota's latest Pre-Collision System (PCS). Toyota's PCS includes lane departure, rear-end and pedestrian collision avoidance technologies, which are based on a millimeter-wave radar and stereo cameras detection system. The PCS also uses near-infrared beams for better usability during nighttime. The PCS system of the NS4 can access the car's brakes and steering to help avoid a collision.
The Toyota NS4 also comes equipped with Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) headlights, and a pop-up hood that manages to reduce head injuries in the case of an impact with a pedestrian.
The concept also comes with a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) system. For improved visibility, the windows of the NS4 have been specially treated. Toyota used on them four new technologies, including hydrophobic coating, an anti-fog film, a high ultraviolet (UV) absorbing inner-layer and an anti-solar film with radio-wave transparency.
At the interior, the Toyota NS4 comes with a newly developed Human-Machine Interface (HMI), which features a Smartphone-style multi-touch screen. Toyota also mentions that it has started several projects in the connectivity field and that it now collaborates with Microsoft, Intel and Salesforce.
Watch the Toyota NS4 in action on video lower down this page.
Toyota NS4 video:
