Toyota surprised us all when they revealed a UTV concept had been in the works for the last 18 months. The project is headed up by a U.S.-based development team near Ann Arbor, Michigan. What is equally as interesting, the project dubbed Scion 01 is using many off-the-shelf components that Toyota makes by the millions for their car and light truck vehicles. The engineers tell us, this concept has many versions, all with different powertrains.
The unit Toyota had displayed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas is powered by the same 2.4-liter (2400cc) powertrain that is used in the Tacoma i-Force Max Hybrid pickup trucks. Those vehicles produce up to 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The transmission in the Scion 01 concept was also out of the pickup. It’s an 8-speed automatic. Its hybrid power comes from an electric motor hidden within the transmission that not only boosts the gas engine power output, it also can run the vehicle by itself in “Silent Mode”. As the machine sits, silent mode is restricted to around 7 miles. It’s still an interesting concept and when battery technology improves, so will range.
Speaking of the battery, the Toyota team tells us there is a 125-pound battery positioned right below the spare tire out back. We let them know, all of that weight, so high on the rear end, is not such a good thing for an off-road vehicle. They admitted the battery should be under the seats, but they also didn’t want the battery to ever get submerged in water. Speaking of water, the radiator is positioned up front like normal for engine cooling. Additionally, the hybrid battery has its own cooling system that relies on the air conditioning unit placed on the side of the engine.
MORE ON THE CHSSIS
Toyota had help from one of its NASCAR teams in building the chassis. In person, it looks beefy, and it should be. We estimate, as the machine sits, it will weigh around 3500 pounds. Hopefully, they find a smaller power plant and shave some weight. Getting rid of the whole hybrid idea would help. Although that power plant would contribute to a very quiet-running UTV.
The Scion 01 sits at 76 inches wide using 35” tall Maxxis Carnivore tires wrapped around 17-inch, 5-lug wheels. The hubs, brakes, differentials, CV Joints, drivelines, and steering box are all sourced from current Toyota vehicles. This fact will keep cost lower if the Scion ever makes it to production.
The wheelbase measures 133 inches, and ground clearance is a massive 17 inches. Three-inch, fully adjustable shocks control movement of huge clamshell A-arms up front and a trailing arm setup out back that uses three radius rods similar to the Can-Am X3. The chassis is built with .095 thick 2-inch steel tubing, and the rear down tubes in the cargo area connect to the frame as well as act as fender supports.
Inside the cabin, there’s a ton of leg room for all four passengers, and the front seats are adjustable. Fit and finish aren’t on par with Toyota vehicles, but we will give them a pass, as this is still a prototype. There are two large screens, racing bucket seats, lots of head and shoulder room, and easy ingress and egress. For now, the cab is not enclosed, but we did express the need in the market for a sport-oriented HVAC machine, so who knows, this might be the vehicle that makes our dreams come true. We will keep you updated.
Engine: 2400cc, turbocharged, hybrid, 4 cylinder
Horsepower/Torque: +300/+400
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Suspension/wheels travel
Front: Dual A-arms w/26” and 3” shocks
Rear: Trailing arms w/26” and 3” shocks
Tires: 35×10.5-17 Maxxis Carnivore
Wheelbase: 133”
Wheel Travel: 26” Front and rear
Fuel Capacity: 14.8 gallons
Contact: www.toyota.com
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