Toyota Bugs Out, Previews Smart INSECT Connected EV Concept

Unrelated to Daimler's Smart brand, the INSECT (yes, it's an acronym, one that stands for "Information Network Social Electric City Transporter") is a one-seat electric vehicle that is designed to be connected to its driver and the world. The gullwinged INSECT uses "motion sensors, voice recognition and behavior prediction" to make the driver feel tied to the wheels, as well as to his or her home via the online Toyota Smart Center. The doors can open based on "the movement of the driver's hand." The car can also identify faces and "authenticate a driver registered with the vehicle when he or she approaches." This thing should have antennae.

Toyota will first display the INSECT at CEATEC JAPAN 2012 next week (think: Japan's version of our Consumer Electronics Show). Earlier reports hinted that Toyota's then-unnamed small EV would cost around $12,500, but Toyota did not talk about an MSRP in the issued teaser release.