Along with the transition to electric engines, designers and technologists of automobile concerns are actively searching for other alternative types of environmentally friendly power plants for future car models. At the Tokyo Motor Show 2019, Toyota has presented a new development of the car of the future, which is powered by hydrogen fuel. The model is called Mirai 2020 and is characterized by a bright and catchy design of the bodywork with outstanding aerodynamic characteristics.
Hydrogen engines are another alternative to fossil fuel engines that pose a real threat to the Earth’s ecosystem. Along with electric cars, Toyota engineers are exploring the possibility of using hydrogen fuel cells. As a result, one of the most striking and memorable cars – Mirai 2020 – was presented at the exhibition in Tokyo.
The first series of Mirai cars entered the retail automotive market back in 2015 and was mainly sold in the United States, which accounted for up to two-thirds of sales (9 thousand units). The next upgrade led to the introduction of the Mirai 2020, a model that will be positioned as a premium car.
The new model increased the number of passenger seats to five, compared with four in the previous model. At the same time, the designers were able to create a new concept for the placement of components and assemblies and remove fuel cells from the rear seat area of the car.
The increased fuel tank will secure a trip up to 650 km without refueling, which is very important with a small number of hydrogen gas stations so far. The geometric parameters of the Mirai 2020 are 4975 x 1885 x 1470 mm with a wheelbase of 2920 mm. Inside, there is a 12.3-inch display and a digital control panel. The sales of Mirai 2020 cars in the European and US markets are planned for the second half of 2020, while in Japan, cars may appear before the Tokyo Olympics. The price of the updated Mirai has not been disclosed yet.
