Toyota has released a video showcasing the innovative leaning motion of the Toyota i-Road concept for those who couldn’t see it in the flesh at its Geneva motor show debut.
The quirky three-wheel two-seater features what the Japanese car maker calls ‘Active Lean’ technology. The trike’s ECU analyses vehicle speed and gyro-sensor information to automatically move the wheels up and down in opposite directions, applying lean angle to counteract the centrifugal force of cornering.
A pair of 2kW electric motors mounted within the front wheels drive the all-electric Toyota i-Road, with a lithium-ion battery providing a 50km range when driven at a average speed of 30km/h. Recharging takes just three hours from a regular power point.
The i-Road concept’s enclosed structure means it can be driven without a helmet, while its pint-sized proportions – at 2350mm long and just 850mm wide – mean four can be parked in a standard single-vehicle car space.
