Taking centre stage were two concept cars – the GR-badged FT-Se sports car and FT-3e crossover – designed to cater to very different needs, but both delivering Toyota levels of quality and experience.

Eagle-eyed observers will notice that the FT-Se features a body style not unlike a mid-ship sports car, which further fuels rumours that an MR2 successor is in the pipeline. It certainly looks like it means business, with a wide and low body, coupled with aggressive air intakes. Unfortunately, Sato-san stopped short of going into further details about the bright orange coupé.

The latter model, on the other hand, is a sleek crossover that’s designed for the whole family. Running along the lower sides and B-pillars of the SUV are sets of digital displays, providing the owners with vehicle information (including current battery charge and interior air quality) as they walk towards it. More than half a dozen screens also fill up the cabin, showcasing the tech-heavy package that Toyota has blessed it with.

To ensure a much more personalised ownership experience, these vehicles will be equipped with Toyota’s Arene OS. This advanced software platform allows the carmaker and its suppliers to identify areas for improvement more quickly and easily through standardised processes, and implement possible software changes via over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Arene OS enables the cars to be connected to entertainment providers and software partners, letting the occupants enjoy activities on the move such as online shopping. According to Toyota, the vehicles’ owners may even opt to share electricity via Energy Grid mode, thus reducing strain on the local infrastructure, and helping the community in the process.

At the press event, Sato-san also took the time to show off several other vehicles that offer high levels of modularity to adapt to wildly different needs.

The Kayoibako, resembling a rounded-off box on four wheels, is a compact van that can quickly transform itself, depending on the current situation and needs. In a short live product demonstration, the vehicle could be seen in two different forms – as a campervan with outdoor-specific accessories fitted to it, and as a delivery van filled with goods.

The other modular Toyota on display is the IMV 0 pick-up truck. It features a highly customisable deck that can be equipped with all kinds of accessories and components, therefore making it a do-it-all vehicle. 

Among the range of possibilities is an emergency vehicle, a DJ booth, and even a mobile cafe, complete with coffee machines. Present at the Toyota exhibition space is also the IMV 0-based Rangga concept, which first debuted at the 2023 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) earlier this year.

Toyota states that this light commercial vehicle concept will soon launch in Asia, although a specific date has not been given. 

Photo Credits: Muhammad Mu’tasim (@mutasimdrives)

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Sporting a low-slung silhouette and sleek pop-up LED headlights, the prototype bears more than a passing resemblance to the FD-generation RX-7, albeit modernised for the 21st century.

According to the carmaker, the Iconic SP features a hybrid powertrain in the form of a two-rotor rotary EV engine. While the internal combustion motor does not directly power the wheels, it will act as a generator that charges a battery pack and sends juice to electric motors, much like in the MX-30 R-EV subcompact crossover. 

It’s also capable of burning various types of fuel such as hydrogen, making the Iconic SP a truly carbon-neutral sports car. Mazda has kept mum about headline figures, only revealing that the concept car has 365hp under the bonnet.

Mazda President and CEO Masahiro Moro, who presented the Iconic SP to members of the international press, had this to say, “Mazda will always deliver vehicles that remind people that cars are pure joy and an indispensable part of their lives. 

“As a car-loving company that mass-produces the inspiring mobility experience, we are committed to shaping the future with our partners sharing the same goal, as well as our fans, where everyone can proudly say, ‘We love cars.’ With such a strong will, Mazda is committed to enriching life-in-motion for those we serve.”

To drive home the Iconic SP’s enthusiast-friendly driving dynamics, Mazda engineers have given the 1,450 kg vehicle a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, positioning the lightweight rotary engine at the centre of the car to achieve a low centre of gravity.

Although it’s a sports car at its core, the Mazda concept also adds value as a lifestyle companion. The automaker states that it’s able to supply power for outdoor leisure activities, or in times of disaster.

There’s still no word on whether the Iconic SP Concept will be destined for production, but judging from the ground sentiments on the event floor today, the excitement from enthusiasts and industry observers is palpable.

Photo Credits: Muhammad Mu’tasim (@mutasimdrives) & Mazda Motor Corporation

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