Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Sedan Concept Signals New Styling Direction [Updated / Videos]

Toyota was one of the few brands that managed to keep one of its Detroit Auto Show debuts under covers until the grand opening and today, the Japanese manufacturer officially revealed the NS4, a sleek looking plug-in hybrid concept.

Like many other conceptual studies shown in Detroit, the NS4's role is to preview the future in the areas of styling and technology.

Toyota says that the NS4 concept signals a new styling direction for the brand "aimed at making an emotional connection with consumers". And truth to be said, the NS4 looks far more interesting than any other Toyota sedan – but then again, it's a concept, so it's supposed to look great.

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Toyota Video Teases New NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car – Is it a Coupe?

In addition to a very closely cropped teaser photo, Toyota has now published a new video on the NS4, a plug-in hybrid concept car that will be fully revealed at next week's 2012 North American International Motor Show in Detroit.

While mystery continues to shroud the details on the NS4, the new promotional clip gives us a sneak peek on some of the car's styling and tech elements such as instrument panel and center console.

We also get a quick glimpse of a few sketches that appear to be showing a coupe or perhaps a sporty looking four-or five-door fastback, but we can't be sure. Follow the break to watch the video for yourself.

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Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Heads to Detroit Motor Show

This is our first look at the brand new Toyota NS4 Concept car that will make its world premiere at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, which takes place in Detroit from January 9 to 22.

Toyota is being as secretive about the NS4 as its premium Lexus sibling is about its own prototype that will be shown in Motor Town, with the only piece of information we get about the vehicle is that it will be "an advanced plug-in hybrid concept".

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Toyota Aqua Hybrid Spiffily Modded by Kana Auto Works

While in the business of producing and developing cars for Toyota for more than half a century, Kana Auto Works has generally stayed under the radar.

However, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company came out of its shell introducing several bespoke models.

Aside from the Toyota Century-based FS Hybrid concept that we showed you earlier today, Kana Auto Works also displayed two prototypes of the newly presented Toyota Aqua hybrid, which will be marketed under the Prius C brand name outside of Japan.

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It's a Car, It's a Smart Phone, No, It's the Toyota Fun-Vii Concept [Updated Gallery]

Crazy concept cars are something of a staple of the bi-annual Tokyo Motor Show, which takes place this year at the Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward from November 30 to December 11.

And while the star of Toyota's booth is no doubt, the new 86 coupe (formerly known as the FT-86), Japan's top-brand has plenty more in store for us including the Fun Vii concept study.

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Kanto Auto Works' FS Hybrid Concept is the Rolls Royce of Toyota Models

Tucked away in a corner of the Tokyo Motor Show is this conceptual proposal for a luxurious full-size sedan named the FS Hybrid by Japanese firm Kanto Auto Works [KAW], which happens to be a long time partner of Toyota.

KAW has several plants throughout Japan as well as in Thailand and Brazil. It has built several Toyota models while also helping the Japanese company in the engineering field with projects like the MR2-based GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II that was also on display in Tokyo.

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Toyota's MR2 Based GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II gets its Motorshow Debut

Visitors at this week's 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will have the chance to see Toyota's MR2 roadster-based GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II in the flesh.

Developed by Toyota and its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing, the prototype made its debut at this year’s 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring in Germany.

For those of you wondering, "GRMN" is an acronym for “Gazoo Racing tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring,” the latter being a nickname for Toyota’s late test driver Hiromu Naruse who died in an accident last summer while driving a prototype of the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition.

The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is a development of last year's racing prototype that was based on production MR-2. The second iteration of Toyota's hybrid sports car features a brand new body while also improving upon the first concept on the powertrain front.

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New Toyota FCV-R Fuel-Cell Concept Heading for Production in 2015 [Updated]

Toyota's conceptual products at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show are a bit more than crowd pleasers as both the FT-EV III mini and the FCV-R study pictured here, are slated to enter production.

The FCV-R is a next-generation fuel-cell concept model fueled by hydrogen that Toyota says is planned for launch in 2015.

According to the Japanese automaker, the fuel-cell unit is located beneath the specially designed body thus saving space with the concept being able to accommodate up to four passengers and their luggage.

The next generation fuel cell stack consists of a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tank, which said to provide a driving range of approximately 700 km or about 435 miles.

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Toyota and Yamaha to Jointly Display Concept Bikes at the Tokyo Motor Show

It's a very little-known fact, but one of, if not the most famous Toyota sports cars of all time, the late 1960s 2000 GT, was designed and manufactured in collaboration with Yamaha, which is mostly recognized as a maker of motorcycles, marine engines and pianos.

The two Japanese companies are now combining forces once again with a joint display of two concept models at this week's 2011 Tokyo Motor Show to highlight their new collaboration in the development of communications-linked next-generation vehicles.

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Toyota Turns the iQ Into the Pure-Electric FT-EV III Concept for the Tokyo Show

While on the forefront of hybrid technology, Toyota is also looking into electric vehicles with plans to introduce a new range of battery-powered models within the next year including the RAV4 EV.

At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, which opens its doors on November 30, the Japanese brand will preview a pure-electric version of the Toyota/Scion/Aston Martin iQ mini with the FT-EV III Concept.

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2014 Toyota Supra Concept: An Artist's Take on the Japanese Firm's Sports Car

In the years that followed after the suspension of production of the last Toyota Supra, the MkIV in 2002, we were (and still are) blasted with numerous reports and rumors suggesting that the Japanese carmaker is planning a revival of its flagship sports car.

More recently, Car Magazine cited unnamed official sources as saying that Toyota has already approved a successor to the Supra. Of course, until we hear it from Toyota, we're obliged to take everything we read about a future Supra with a grain of salt.

Nevertheless, we always welcome design proposals for future cars from talented artists like Andreas Fougner who attempted to reinterpret the Toyota Supra for the 21st century.

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