Toyota reveals futuristic urban concept car in Frankfurt

The Endo concept car displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show is the latest creation from Toyota's European design studio (geekily name ED²), following on from the sporty CS&S and Motor Triathlon Race Car concepts. It is a concept car in the true sense of the word, not even pretending to house any drivetrain.

At exactly three metres long, the Endo is quite compact, designed very much as a city car for urban dwellers. The show car is noticeably tall and wide, allowing four occupants to sit in comfort, and the cabin is where most of the car's interest lies. The driver's seat is fairly conventional, in a concept car thin kind of way. Move over to the passenger's though and you'll notice that it slides forward or back, but also from side to side, allowing some flexibility for unusually shaped loads. The rear pews fold every which way, including a backrest that swivels, so you can choose between four-seater, two or three seats with loads of luggage, or even a picnic party car.

If it's a British picnic it will probably be inside, but that's ok in the Endo, as its dashboard is one big information screen. As well as housing the car's main instruments and controls for the satellite navigation, audio and climate control, it incorporates an email and Internet browser and can display TV and DVD images. Well it's that or talk to each other over your soggy cucumber sandwiches. Could be useful for traffic jams in the cities of the future too.