Toyota has taken the concept car back to its true roots by showing a plug-in hybrid dubbed NS4, which demonstrates future safety, connectivity and powertrain technology. It also signals a new design direction for Toyota, which the company describes as 'making an emotional connection with consumers'. Quite.
Also debuting is a new human-machine interface, which centres around a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone. It controls everything from multimedia to climate and navigation systems, and will even learn preferences to anticipate driver responses in particular situations.
New safety technology is demonstrated too with a pre-collision anticipatory system, adaptive high beam lighting technology, a lane departure system, blind spot monitor and pop-up bonnet for improved pedestrian protection.
Powering the NS4 is Toyota's latest plug-in hybrid technology, of which the company is saying nothing other than reductions in size and weight improve economy, acceleration and range - all while retaining a 'short charge time'. Instead Toyota seems happier telling you about the four new glass technologies that improve visibility in rain, won't fog up, regulate temperature and absorb 99% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Useful under the show lights in Cobo Hall.