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Toyota's Future-Car Ideas of 2015: i-Road, Mirai, Pedestrian Braking
In February 2015 we described three Toyota projects as steps towards the car of the future. They were the leaning i-Road, the hydrogen fuel-cell Mirai and a pre-collision system that brakes for pedestrians. The i-Road never went on sale, the Mirai stayed a niche car, and automatic emergency braking became standard equipment.
Key takeaways
- i-Road: shown at Geneva in March 2013, tested in Japan and France, never sold to private buyers.
- Mirai: on sale in Japan from 15 December 2014; second generation from December 2020; about 21,500 sold worldwide by November 2022.
- Pre-collision braking: part of the Toyota Safety Sense package from 2015, now fitted across the range.
The three Toyota projects in our 2015 report
Our original article grouped a vehicle class, a fuel and a safety system. What they shared was Toyota's promise of cleaner and safer personal transport.
It also contained an error. It said the i-Road was first shown "in March of this year", meaning 2015, but Toyota unveiled it at Geneva in March 2013. The fuel-cell car it described was already on sale in Japan as the Mirai.
Key facts: i-Road, Mirai and pre-collision braking
| Project | What it was | Key figures | First shown or launched |
|---|---|---|---|
| i-Road | three-wheel electric tandem two-seater | two 2 kW motors, about 50 km range, 45 km/h, 850 mm wide | Geneva, March 2013 |
| Mirai (first generation) | hydrogen fuel-cell sedan | 114 kW stack, 113 kW motor, 502 km EPA range, 3–5 min refuelling | Japan, 15 December 2014 |
| Pre-Collision System | automatic braking with radar and camera | pedestrian detection in Toyota Safety Sense P | 2015 |
The i-Road's Active Lean system tilted the body into corners like a motorcycle, raising or lowering each front wheel. Our 2015 report also quoted a three-hour charge and a target price below 12,000 US dollars; Toyota never confirmed a retail price.
The Mirai cost 6.7 million yen before tax in Japan, about €45,600 at December 2014 rates, and €60,000 plus VAT in Germany. Running costs depend on the local hydrogen price; test your own figures in the fuel cost calculator.
Why Toyota backed all three at once
In 2015 nobody knew which zero-emission technology would win, so Toyota spread its bets. Battery cars still had short ranges and long charging times, which our old article described as their main weakness. Hydrogen promised quick refuelling, and Toyota pushed it further with the FCV Plus concept at the 2015 Tokyo show.
The pre-collision work answered a different problem. Our report quoted Toyota estimates that earlier braking could avoid or soften many pedestrian impacts, with the system then working only below 70 km/h. These were Toyota's own figures.
What happened to each idea
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2013 | i-Road unveiled; Toyota plans 70 cars for a car-sharing trial in Grenoble |
| 15 December 2014 | Mirai goes on sale in Japan; 1,500 orders arrive in the first month |
| 2015 | Mirai reaches the US and Europe; Toyota Safety Sense rolls out |
| March 2017 | i-TRIL concept at Geneva carries the leaning idea forward |
| December 2020 | Second-generation Mirai on sale, rear-wheel drive, TNGA platform |
| August 2021 | Mirai covers a record 1,360 km on one tank |
| November 2022 | Cumulative Mirai sales reach 21,475 |
| 2023–2024 | US lawsuits over power loss and scarce hydrogen |
Mirai sales peaked at 5,918 in 2021 and fell to 1,702 in the first eleven months of 2024.
Our verdict: the three ideas in 2026
In October 2026 the i-Road remains a trial vehicle. Toyota's later small electric city car, the C+pod of 2020, used four wheels.
The second-generation Mirai is still listed in some markets, but hydrogen cars stay rare. Battery cars, which our 2015 article doubted, now dominate zero-emission sales; see our electric cars and hybrid cars sections.
Automatic emergency braking is the clear winner: Toyota fits it across its range, and most new cars have similar systems. If safety matters most, choose any recent model from the Toyota catalogue with the current Safety Sense version.
FAQ
Did the Toyota i-Road ever go into production?
No. Toyota built it for trials, including a car-sharing scheme in Grenoble and the Ha:mo project in Toyota City. Private buyers could never order one.
When did the Toyota Mirai go on sale?
The first Mirai went on sale in Japan on 15 December 2014, then in the US and Europe in 2015. The second generation arrived in December 2020.
How far can a Toyota Mirai go on hydrogen?
The first generation was rated at 502 km on the US EPA cycle. A second-generation car covered a record 1,360 km on one tank in 2021.
Does Toyota's pre-collision system detect pedestrians?
Yes. Pedestrian detection arrived with the Toyota Safety Sense P package in 2015, alongside automatic braking for vehicles ahead. Later versions of the package added further scenarios, such as cyclists.
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