Autoblog

Toyota's i-Real answers the quintessential question: "How can I let my legs atrophy, while simultaneously looking sillier than someone in a Segway?" Here's your answer.

Toyota's president, Katsuaki Watanabe, rolled onto the stage in complete control of the amped up wheelchair and although his stiff demeanor carried over from the operation of the i-Real to his speech, we understand it's relatively easy to operate. Two joysticks fall to hand, controlling forward motion, braking and turning, and once the speeds increase – up to 30 km/h – the seat tilts back to stabilize the i-Real.

We've added a few live shots of the i-Real to our gallery and you can take a gander at our original post for more details.

click above image to view 24 high-res pics of the Toyota i-Real

Remember the Toyota i-Swing concept that debuted at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. Man, we thought that was a weird one. The i-Real, a similar personal mobility transport concept, will soon debut in Tokyo and instantly eclipse the i-Swing in its oddness. In fact, we at first thought the i-Real was a personal mobility toilet, but it turns out the seat doesn't take deposits. Instead, the i-Real appears to be positioned as a Segway alternative with an adjustable wheelbase. At slow speeds and in crowds the space between the two front wheels and one rear will shrink, thereby increasing maneuverability and lifting the rider up to eye-level with bipedal humans that actually use their functioning limbs. At higher speeds the wheelbase will extend, lowering the vehicle and making it more stable. While no top speed was mentioned, we doubt this thing goes fast enough to do anything more than bruise a shin or two. Nevertheless, it's also equipped with passive safety gear that will alert the driver to impending collisions, while also keeping pedestrians aware of its presence by emitting lights and sounds. We think Fisher Price offers something similar for the 3-5 crowd.

[Source: Toyota]