Sexy little hybrids steal the show

Toyota plans to roll out eight new compact hybrids in the next few years. Photo / Supplied

Toyota's determined to sex up its boy-next-door image, judging by its latest crop of concept cars.

It fired its opening salvo at Detroit, with the FT-CH concept - a compact car that slots in under Prius, and is billed as the start of a broader range of hybrid choices leading to widespread sale of plug-in hybrids and battery electric cars by 2012.

Toyota plans to sell one million hybrids a year worldwide, with eight all-new hybrid models to roll out in the next few years.

The FT-CH could be the first. It was designed as a city car at Toyota's Nice design studio, and its purposeful stance comes from dimensions almost 560mm shorter than Prius but just 25mm narrower. Lighter, more fuel-efficient and affordable, it's also a lot funkier - albeit still too sensible to join its stablemates at Japan's Auto Salon.

Though a more radical "Toyobaru" FT-86 G sports concept was on show there, hybrids still ruled - albeit hybrids with a naughty edge.

Like the GRMN Sports, an MR2 with a body kit, four-wheel drive and a 3.3-litre V6 engine mated to an electric motor filched from Highlander. The 1300kg concept delivers 4.0-litre levels of performance and shows Toyota is still working on a compact hybrid sports car.

Even less sensible was the Aygo-based GRMN FR hot hatch, a super-small 1.5-litre rear-drive concept.

Too silly? The Prius G Sports Concept keeps its sensible 1.8-litre hybrid engineering, but tucks it under a body kit with wheel spats, a lowered sports suspension and 18-inch wheels. The cabin gets sports seats, too - overkill for a Prius? Not one designed to handle well, says Toyota, which used Nurburgring-trained test drivers when customising this car's suspenders.

Looks as if Toyota realises future fuel doesn't have to mean safe and sensible. Let's hope some of the quirky character makes it to production.