The Toyota FTX Full Size Concept Truck
Toyota unveiled its Toyota FTX full-size pickup truck concept at the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
This new concept was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy Group and Calty, Toyota’s North American-based, research and design center located in Newport Beach, California. The truck offers a hint to the direction in size and styling of future Toyota full-size pickup Trucks. The Toyota FTX concept is about 19-feet in length, nearly seven feet in width, and six-and-one-half feet in height. The FTX is a full-fledged body-on-frame, “Super-C-Cab” 4×4 pickup truck. It has the interior room of a double cab, yet opens 90 degrees with suicide doors.
The exterior features have bumpers with integrated tow hooks and special hideaway universal carabiner-type tie-down hooks in the truck bed. Underneath the rear skid-plate is a multi-functional unit that houses an electric generator, an air compressor and other outlets. Inside the bed, there is a solid metal collapsible hidden job box that can be erected for safe storage of tools and supplies. In the rear tailgate, there is a hideaway ramp that extends to the ground when the gate is open, allowing heavy items to be rolled into the bed, instead of being lifted.
Toyota has made the interiors really roomy and attractive. The manufacturers have also not compromised with this truck’s accessories. The instrument panel and center console arch bend outward, wrapping around each occupant, forming two protective cells. A wide center console separates at a large center display panel. The console contains an armrest-mounted control-arm that includes all instrumentation and an operational lever that is angled toward the driver. The seat height and steering wheel angle of the FTX are positioned high. Suspension seats isolate the driver and passenger from rough terrain and include deep center pads styled after a horseman’s saddle for comfort.
The floating, foldaway rear seats are styled after recreational boats. The rear seat base is affixed to a center beam, suspending the seats off the floor for under-seat storage. Over-sized door and pillar pull handles and seat mounted grips assist in getting in and out of the truck. A large overhead track lamp can be pulled down and slide side-to-side across the cabin.
