The 2024 Toyota Compact Cruiser concept EV has won an award for its super cool design.
The Car Design Awards named it the best concept car for 2022, beating the Audi Skysphere, Lexus Electrified Sport, Polestar O2, and the Porsche Mission R.
The car hasn’t actually been confirmed for production yet, but it’s expected to be one of 30 electric cars Toyota plans to offer by 2030.
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The cruiser, which is expected to be called the LiteCruiser, is an electric 4WD that looks very similar to the Suzuki Jimny.
It first debuted at the electric vehicle showcase in 2021.
Designers appear to have taken inspiration from the first LandCruiser, while giving it a new-age, futuristic feel.
Toyota Design Senior Manager Simon Humphries said “our research into electric vehicles has been ongoing for more than 30 years and we’ve come a long way”.
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With the compact off-road design, Toyota said it was targeting “young, professional urban dwellers who enjoy active outdoor leisure interests”.
The Car Design Awards jury described the car as “one of the most iconic Toyota off-roaders, promising a future production compact SUV with a strong appeal”.
“A rugged and modern utilitarian product that is also desirable, a hard feat to achieve,” they said.
The Polestar O2 was awarded second place and the Astheimer Aura came in third place for the best concept car design.
The Car Design Award has three categories; concept cars, production cars and brand language design.
The Ferrari 296 GTB was awarded best production car and the Polestar O2 was named best brand design language award.
The best brand language design is awarded to the design team “that has stood out for the consistency and transversality of its brand’s formal language across the whole product range”.
The award ceremony, which was held in Milan this week, happens annually.
