A Closer Look At Toyota's Compact Cruiser EV Concept

More images of the Toyota Compact Cruiser EV prototype were released after it received the 2022 Car Design Award for Concept Vehicles. Toyota and Lexus unveiled 15 concept automobiles in Tokyo, including the Compact Cruiser EV.

More photographs of the concept, which was designed at the Toyota Europe Design development center in Nice, France, are now available. Toyota designers were inspired by the first generation Land Cruiser and the company's off-road background, with the concept resembling the vintage FJ Cruiser. 

Massive skid plates, boxy fenders, a decent ground clearance, a side-mounted ladder, and a custom roof rack all contribute to the rough character of the Toyota Compact Cruiser EV.

Toyota Design Senior General Manager Simon Humphries remarked, “Our research into electric vehicles has been ongoing for more than 30 years, and we’ve come a long way. After an initial phase of contact with electric vehicles, people will want zero-emission cars that speak about them and express their lifestyle. And the Compact Cruiser EV is a perfect example of that trend”.

The vehicle received the award from Auto&Design as part of their annual Car Design Award. This year's winners are the Ferrari 296 GTB (production vehicles), the Toyota Compact Cruiser (concept vehicles), and Polestar (brand design language/overall consistency).