Inhabitat » TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: The Toyota RiN

October 30, 2007

TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: The Toyota RiN

by Jorge Chapa

“transportation tuesday” toyota RiN healthy driving car tokyo motor show, green transportation, sustainable transportation, green cars, green automobile

The Toyota RiN has been unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show as the ultimate healthy living automobile. Instead of stressing the high-performance aspects of the vehicle, Toyota wants RiN drivers to see driving as a relaxing and meditative experience. Plus, it’s compact and green! Literally and figuratively…

The RiN will do everything that it can to make you feel relaxed and happy. Ergonomic seats maintain your posture and heated seats will keep you comfy. Inside, the car comes equipped with an oxygen-level conditioner and a humidifier, green tinted glazing to reduce infiltration of ultraviolet and infrared light, and windows extending to the floor allow passengers to view the passing landscape at ground level.

The green colors of the vehicle are meant to express harmony with nature. The headlights are designed to make sure that any approaching pedestrians and vehicles aren’t blinded by them. And the steering wheel controls change color depending on your mood! Your commute will never be the same- who wouldn’t want to travel in green comfy style?

+ The Toyota RiN

“transportation tuesday” toyota RiN healthy driving car tokyo motor show

11 Responses to “TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: The Toyota RiN”

James Says:

October 30th, 2007 at 9:00 am

I am always happy to see any car design that eschews the aggressive styling that is common in the automotive industry. I prefer riding a bike, but I would rather share the road with cars that are not only smaller, but “friendly looking” as well.

Toyota RIN: Truly Amazing Vehicle « Blogging About Mol Bio and Biotech Says:

October 30th, 2007 at 10:01 am

[…] conditioner, a humidifier, color-changing steering wheel controls, and as the full story here says “it’s compact and green! Literally and […]

Mahesh Basantani Says:

October 30th, 2007 at 11:26 am

Could anyone please explain how exactly would the technology behind the color changing steering wheel controls would work?

T-D Says:

October 30th, 2007 at 3:41 pm

Pardon me for being blunt, but why are so many “green” concept cars so very hideously ugly? I mean, look at the PUYO, and now this - who is going to want to drive around in an overgrown Fisher-Price car? If designers want to get people more interested in hydrogen and other green energy sources in cars, it’d help if they would design cars that us normal people would actually want to be seen in.

(Like, for instance, the new FCX, Tesla Roadster, and other good-looking cars)

TinTex Says:

October 31st, 2007 at 9:23 am

Well, T-D, I find SUVs incredibly ugly (not to mention aggressive looking), yet there are millions of them on the roads. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and not everyone chooses a car based solely on looks.

I like the way this car looks; I see what you mean about Fisher-Price, but that doesn’t bother me at all. The interior especially is cool.

J Says:

October 31st, 2007 at 9:39 pm

I can understand that the unique shape isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I like :-) … and the interior sure looks impressive!

There is one design change I would like to see: a rounded/slanted front roof line - since I believe that makes it more aerodynamic and therefore slight more energy efficient … also might make it just a titch nicer looking too.

Cheers
J

jason Says:

November 1st, 2007 at 8:38 am

sooooooooooooooooper cool! Imagine alll the peeeeopullll….. living for todayyyyy ayyy ayy — you may sayyyyy I’m a dreamer…. but I’m not the only one :D

Sean Says:

November 1st, 2007 at 1:59 pm

Windows to the floor to view passing landscape? What? Aren’t these intended to be urban vehicles?
(btw, good luck insulating this car)

Also - how is astroturf “green” in the “ecologically sound” sense? It’s that one thing alone that truly pushes me away from this car. Get rid of the floors and I’m happy, even with the fish-in-a-bowl cabin.

Neece Says:

November 3rd, 2007 at 1:01 pm

Kudos to Toyota for trying something new. It’s GROOVY! I

paul Says:

November 5th, 2007 at 8:24 pm

smart but it looks like pikachoo (check my spelling) should be driving it. Please make one that the average mmoney-having person would remotely like… or hmmmm maybe these projects are just marketing ploys….”look at TOYOTA’s new bla bla bla”; go to their website; buy a 6 cylinder camery.