i-Road, More Motorcycle like than a Car

Toyota seems to have found a solution of the traffic congestion problem in i-Road, their latest concept vehicle, which debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. This concept vehicle combines the best attributes of a motorcycle and car, the i-Road rides on a unique three-wheel architecture.

Toyota i-Road in action. (Picture from: http://www.slashgear.com/)

The i-Road concept vehicle has a 85.09 cm (33.5-inch) wide so no wider than a conventional motorcycle that enabled it to undertake urban mobility with great ease, but trumps any motorcycle's all-weather ability by providing a completely enclosed cabin for the driver and passenger. Because of that body work added, the i-Road passengers and driver does not need to wear helmets.

The Toyota i-Road at the 2013 Geneva motor show. (Picture from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

The i-Road driving experience is more like a motorcycle than a car, it is thanks to the latest Toyota's "Active Lean" technology. This system uses an actuators and gearing just above the front suspension, allowing each front wheel to move independently, giving the i-Road the same motor action of leaning into a turn. This system also enhances i-Road's straight-line comfort as the actuator that can maintain the body of vehicle level over uneven surfaces.

Toyota i-Road concept car interior. (Picture from: http://rumors.automobilemag.com/)

The power of 2,68 hp (2 kW) for the i-Road generated by a pair of electric motors, whereas one on each front wheel. The i-Road's all-electric drivetrain is backed by lithium-ion battery pack, so the vehicle can cover total distance of 30 miles (48.28 km). The i-Road Vehicle concept can be fully charged from a conventional power outlet within about three hours.

At the 2013 Geneva Auto Show, Toyota demonstrated the i-Road, which leans aggressively in corners but appears to be remarkably stable. The Toyota i-Road is purely a concept at this point, but we could see production vehicles like it someday, and as automakers try to solve worldwide's problem of the traffic congestion. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SLASHGEAR | CAR AND DRIVER]

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