TOKYO — Toyota on Wednesday rolled out a variant of its Mark X, the ZiO, that puts a premium on a flexible interior that can transform to suit a variety of needs. Toyota spokesman John McCandless said the vehicle is not intended for the U.S. market.
Regardless, the Mark X ZiO, which Toyota calls a "4+Free" concept, illustrates how the Japanese automaker is thinking when it comes to cabin arrangements that can shift quickly to suit a variety of passenger and cargo needs.
The ZiO's "three mode" cabin can accommodate from four to seven passengers. In "personal sedan mode," a tonneau board with dual tonneau covers creates a sedanlike vehicle. Stow the tonneau board and covers, and the "active wagon mode" creates a large cargo space in the rear. The "friendly minivan mode" adds seating for more passengers by raising the third-row seats in the cargo space.
Prices for the Mark X ZiO, which comes in either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, range from the equivalent of $22,140 for the 240 model to $28,800 for the 350G model. Engine choices include a 2.4-liter mated to a continuously variable transmission or a 3.5-liter mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
High-tech features include a wide-view front monitor with a 190-degree field of view that shows the ground in front of the vehicle and the left and right frontal areas. A pre-crash safety system uses millimeter-wave radar to activate pre-crash seatbelts and pre-crash brake assist in the likelihood of a collision.
The Mark X ZiO is expected to eventually go on sale in China, where Toyota builds the Mark X.