Toyota Goes 'Back to the Future' to Pitch Mirai

9 years, 2 months ago - 16 October 2015, Automotive News
Toyota Goes 'Back to the Future' to Pitch Mirai
Toyota intends to have some fun with the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future and the launch of its latest green model.

The automaker’s official on-sale date for the hydrogen-fueled Mirai is Oct. 21, 2015 -- a date made famous by Back to the Future Part II, when actor Michael J. Fox’s character Marty McFly travels 30 years into the future.

To celebrate, Toyota has produced a series of videos that feature Fox and fellow actor Christopher Lloyd, who played “Doc” Emmett Brown.

The first video was released Wednesday. In the 43-second spot, the two actors talk about what predictions became reality at a diner. Two more videos will be released Thursday and Monday.

While there are still no flying cars, nor have the Chicago Cubs won the World Series -- yet -- cars today look a lot different than the ones depicted in the movie’s 2015.

“Over the years, we’ve had a lot of fun predicting which Back to the Future fictional 2015 technology would arrive by the real year,” Fox said in a statement. “Now that we’re a week away, I think fans are going to have a good time with what Toyota sees as a true possibility for transportation. It’s actually really cool.”

The Mirai initially will be sold by just eight Toyota dealerships in California and has a starting price of $58,325, before incentives, including shipping.

Toyota has said the sedan has a range of 312 miles.

The company also hinted the video to be released Thursday might include a Tacoma re-creation of McFly’s Toyota pickup from the movie series.

“While there are a lot of brands and activations that are celebrating the Back to the Future milestone, Toyota stands apart for their nod to the future and the past with the auto technology depicted in the movies,” said Bob Gale, Back to the Future’s co-creator and producer, in a statement. “When Toyota approached us about helping tell a bigger story about the future and innovation with Mirai, we loved the direction -- and who can resist Marty’s retro Toyota truck?”