The production version looks remarkably similar to the concept, which was first shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show; few cars have made the transition from concept to production with such slight visual changes. The addition of side-view mirrors, toned-down lighting elements, and a few other details are the only things that separate the production Fuel Cell Sedan from the concept.
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When it goes on sale next year, the Fuel Cell Sedan will be priced at close to seven million yen. That's about $69,000 at current exchange rates, meaning it comes close to splitting the difference between the original estimate of $50,000 and subsequent reports that put the price at around twice that number.
Toyota still hasn't revealed final specifications for the car, but the FCV concept featured a 100-kilowatt (134 horsepower) hydrogen fuel cell stack, an electric motor of unspecified power output, and two high-pressure tanks that could hold enough hydrogen for 310 miles of driving.
The Toyota Fuel Cell Sedan will go on sale in Japan sometime around April 2015, but initially only in four urban centers (Tokyo, Chukyo, Kansai, and Fukuoka) that are deemed to be having an adequate refueling infrastructure. U.S. and European sales will follow in the summer of 2015.
When it arrives in the U.S., the Toyota will be met by a fuel cell car from Honda, as well as a small number of Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell crossovers that have recently begun deliveries. This resurgence in fuel cells comes despite a lack of fueling stations, but it's clear some carmakers are convinced hydrogen is the way to go when it comes to eliminating emissions.
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