The Tiny Terror That Could - Toyota FT-Me
Image Credit: Toyota.
Toyota has just unveiled a machine that's smaller than my last bad haircut. And it's a giggle. It's called the FT-Me and it is a car so small, you could easily park it in your kitchen. Yep, Toyota's gone and shrunk the automotive world with this electric quadricycle. It's a mere 100 inches long, which, for those of you who speak in normal measurements, is about the length of a particularly enthusiastic dachshund. I think. And it weighs a featherweight 937 pounds. That's probably less than my collection of vintage spark plugs.
Don't expect to break any land speed records in this automotive contraption. This little fella tops out at a blistering 28 mph. I guess it's perfect for those leisurely Sunday drives… to the mailbox. But here's the kicker: in France, teenagers as young as 14 can drive it without a license. Can you imagine the chaos?
Image Credit: Toyota.
Toyota claims it'll do at least 62 miles on a single charge. And get this, it's got a solar roof! Apparently, if you park it in the sun all day, you can squeeze out an extra 18 miles. Which is great, unless you live in Seattle, where the sun is just a rumor.
Toyota's pitching this thing as a do-it-all electric vehicle. You can yank out the passenger seat to fit a wheelchair or a bicycle. Or, if you're hauling something long, like a particularly unwieldy baguette, you can fit items up to 62 inches. That's almost as long as my fishing rod.
Surprisingly, this little tike is designed to be driven with hand controls. So, if your legs are on strike, you're still good to go. Jokes aside - this is a perfect solution for anyone using a wheelchair. No need for expensive adaptations and compromises. The visibility is 360 degrees, which is a blessing for those of us who struggle with parallel parking. And that's actually most of us.
Toyota envisions the FT-Me as a city slicker, perfect for delivery drivers, car-sharing services, or even parents who want to keep tabs on their teenage terrors. Imagine being able to remotely control your kid's car… I know I'd be teaching them a lesson or two…
Although it might sound like a revolutionary idea, Toyota's not the only player in the tiny electric car game. They're up against some stiff competition. There's the Citroen Ami, the Dogood Zero (what in the name?!), the Estrima Biro, the Fiat Topolino (wife's favorite), and the Mobilize Duo. A veritable circus of miniature marvels.
The Citroen Ami, for instance, starts at a mere $9,950 and offers 40 miles of range. The Dogood Zero is even cheaper, at $7,760, with 50 miles of range. Then we have the Estrima Biro with a removable battery, but it comes in at a steep $14,225. And don't forget the Fiat Topolino, at $10,760, giving you 47 miles. And the Mobilize Duo, replacing the Renault Twizy, offers 100 miles for $10,800.
Toyota's got its work cut out. They need to nail the price and running costs. And I'm still scratching my head about that solar panel. Will people really pay extra for a few extra miles?
Image Credit: Toyota.
Look, there's no hiding that I'm a sucker for anything that's a bit… different. And the Toyota FT-Me definitely fits that bill. It's quirky, it's practical, and it's undeniably small. It's a golf cart on steroids, or maybe a really, really strong shopping cart.
Will it revolutionize urban transport? Who knows? Certainly, not me. But it sure is an interesting concept. And I'd love to take it for a spin. Just to see the looks on people's faces. This is exactly the kind of thing that makes you smile, even if you're stuck in traffic.
Toyota, if you're listening, get this thing into production. I want to see these little buggers zipping around our cities. It'll be a hoot. Maybe it won't save the entire planet, but at least it'll make it easier for us to find a parking spot. And that is a first-world problem solved.
