Toyota i-TRIL concept: 3-seat electric leans to the future

The small (very small) electric vehicle has close-set rear wheels, three seats and Active Lean technology for banking around street corners.

The car, developed by Toyota Motors Europe with an assist from the company's ED2 design studio in Nice, France, is intended to bring a bit of fun to 30- to 50-year-old moms in the year 2030, while they do their kid-hauling in the small- to medium-sized suburban towns that are expected to see the bulk of population growth in Europe. It's designed to be small, maneuverable, easy to park and able to handle a lot of stop-and-go.

The i-TRIL weighs 1,300 pounds and is just 9 feet, 3 inches long. The car ... trike? space pod? ... is hinged between the rear axle and passenger cabin, which lets the body and front tires lean by up to 10 degrees for stability while the closely spaced rear tires remain perpendicular. (An indicator light on the dash tells the occupants which way the car is about to lean!) The seating position is rather laid-back, with the rear passenger's legs extending alongside the driver, and the interior is clad in a lot of Alacandra. There's no instrument cluster, just a heads-up display. The electric motor is expected to have a range of 124 miles.

Oh, and Toyota says the i-TRIL could be driven autonomously but expects you'll prefer to drive.