The Japan Mobility Show featured an intriguing contrast at Toyota's booth. On one side, there was the futuristic FT-Se electric sportscar concept, while on the other, stood the old-school IMV 0 concept with a ladder frame and an internal combustion engine (ICE). Toyota's commitment to catering to a wide range of customer needs and preferences was evident with the IMV 0, designed for those who aren't ready for or interested in electric vehicles (EVs) just yet.
Actually, the IMV project—which created legends like the Hilux, Fortuner, and Innova—is where the IMV 0 got its start. Though the IMV 0 was designed to be a pick-up as well, modern thought went into the concept, promising "boundless customization possibilities." Because of the modular architecture of the single-cab chassis, several bodywork with various purposes can be bolted onto the flat-bed portion. It may be converted into a coffee shop, food truck, safari camper, or even a mountain rescue ambulance. The great nostalgic twist of the boxy design is part of what makes it so appealing.
Toyota IMV 0 platform: Fundamentally affordable
Still, the IMV 0's primary focus is price, and Toyota's admission that its pickups and SUVs have grown too costly led to its implementation. "Due to price rises brought on by additional features and requirements over time, our original clientele was no longer able to buy our products. Yoshiki Konishi, president of Toyota Daihatsu Engineering and Manufacturing (TDEM), stated on the fringes of the auto show, "That is the reason we have now decided to introduce a new concept which we call the IMV 0 that can serve the needs of everyday people and give them new opportunities." Toyota has built IMV 0 on the tried-and-true IMV platform in order to control costs. Design optimization, the use of lighter materials, and feature and equipment reduction will result in additional cost savings The primary cost-saving strategies will actually include cutting back on features and equipment, but will customers be willing to tolerate that? Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) president Hao Quoc Tien states, "We have to be smart about what we keep and what we take out." He also notes that many IMV 0 consumers in the ASEAN region will use the pick-up for its basic utility and will be ready to forgo some amenities in exchange for a lower price.
A more affordable Fortuner?
Quoc Tien also made hints that the IMV 0 would not only come in a pick-up shape; an SUV body type, similar to the Fortuner on the existing IMV platform, might be included. He stated, "We are currently cooking something; that is a different project." There is a compelling argument for a more inexpensive option, and the IMV 0 seems to be the ideal platform to offer one, given that the Fortuner's on-road rates in some areas have reached the absurd sum of Rs 60 lakh. What will it be though? It might not be any smaller, but in order to save money, it might have fewer amenities and the Innova's smaller, less expensive 2.4-liter diesel engine rather than the Fortuner's 2.8-liter engine. There will also be a potent hybrid option available for the IMV 0, most likely a more potent 2.0 hybrid found in the Innova Hycross. Because of the IMV 0's body-on-frame construction, which makes electrification challenging, there are no plans for an EV version. When the IMV 0 pick-up is introduced in 2025, it will primarily service the ASEAN area, which has a strong pick-up market. It is probable that the pickup variant would be introduced in India as a less costly substitute for the exorbitant Hilux. We anticipate the SUV version to launch one year following the pickup; the pricing has not yet been confirmed.