The Toyota NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid concept is a mid-sized concept with a Human-Machine Interface providing a user interface built around a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone. The NS4 introduces a next generation Pre-Collision System with lane departure, rear-end and pedestrian collision avoidance technologies designed to predict collisions under certain circumstances and help avoid them. This PCS uses millimeter-wave radar and stereo cameras mounted on the front of the vehicle to detect and react to lane departure, pedestrians and other vehicles. In addition, the system emits near-infrared beams to enhance PCS recognition at night helping to avoid collisions with other vehicles, road-side obstructions, and pedestrians by applying the brakes and manipulating steering.
Adaptive Driving Beam headlights help prevent vision-impairing glare to oncoming drivers and pedestrians. Using a camera mounted behind the front grill and partial shielding inside the headlights, this feature allows drivers to maintain near-high beam illumination to improve nighttime visibility. Four new glass technologies are integrated into the windshield and front triangle, door, and rear windows to improve driver visibility, gas mileage and electric driving mode mileage efficiency: Hydrophobic coating – Fluorine coated glass causes rain drops to form into semi-spherical shapes for improved visibility and rain drop elimination (also used on the roof solar panel), Anti-fog film – High performance resin material with anti-fogging characteristics and increased durability, High ultraviolet (UV) absorbing inner-layer – Removes 99 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays, Anti-solar film with radio-wave transparency – Reduces the internal vehicle temperature and improves electronic device functionality.
The NS4 concept is a dedicated plug-in hybrid, separate from the Prius family, for potential global market introduction by 2015.
