Will Toyota take a vehicle to the moon? A new creation called the Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser hints at idea of putting a Toyota SUV on the moon.
Only the name suggests this new vehicle could make its way onto the next manned mission to the lunar surface. The baby Lunar Cruiser (BLC) is made to celebrate 50 years of Calty Design Research. This is the American wing of Toyota’s global design network, where many impressive designs and creations have been born and eventually became realities. This new lunar-inspired vehicle shows off some distinct styling that reminds us of the FJ40 model of the Land Cruiser.
Calty Design Research brings some favorites to the market
The team at Calty Design Research is responsible for some Toyota’s most interesting and daring designs. This is the team that created the second-generation Celica and the next-gen Tacoma to give you at least two ideas of what this team can put together. The Calty team is based in Newport Beach, where they’ve been located since 1978. The Calty team began in El Segundo, CA, in 1973 and has created some impressive futuristic concept vehicles. Some of the futuristic models included the MX-1 sports car and the A80 Supra. These cars never made it to the production line, but they, like many other concept cars, have influenced the Toyota design language for several years.
It’s easy to see the Land Rover influence in the BLC
The Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser brings tons of inspiration from the FJ40 Land Cruiser. Both vehicles have a similar grille design, tall/upright stance, and the boxy body we associate with many years of the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Although the BLC and Land Cruiser are similar, the new concept lunar model has a large glass canopy that provides incredible visibility for a driver taking this vehicle out for a ride on the lunar surface. The dashboard features an augmented reality display, spaceframe seats, and M.O.L.L.E. panels to provide the desired flexibility during any ride.
Will the BLC ever see production
Considering the BLC is made for lunar surface driving, mass production doesn’t seem practical at all. Still, this vehicle is only a concept, made to be a design study and not a vehicle that actually heads to production. The technical details are few, but those few are interesting.
This new lunar vehicle celebrates 50 years of the design study and will have four in-wheel motors to drive each wheel individually. These wheels can be controlled with two joysticks, giving them impressive maneuverability on the unexplored terrain found on the moon. The BLC also features airless tires, which would be useful while on the Moon. Can you imagine stopping because you’ve had a flat and need to replace a tire while riding around on the lunar surface?
Why did Toyota create this vehicle?
We can say the Calty Design team built this new Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser strictly to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the design studio, but there’s more to this than that. In 2020, NASA asked automakers to help design the next lunar rover. It’s an easy leap from that ask to this new BLC from Toyota. This concept vehicle is only one entry; the Hyundai Tiger X-1 prototype is another. This tells you that some automakers are interested in partnering with NASA to create this next lunar vehicle.
A new Land Cruiser hits the market
Because the BLC is based on a previous version of the Toyota Land Cruiser, it only seems fitting to quickly discuss the new 2024 model. The Land Cruiser name makes its return to the North American automotive market, giving us a new SUV that wears the name that once signaled a nearly luxurious vehicle. This new Land Cruiser is different from the previous model.
One of the biggest changes to the Land Cruiser is the shorted wheelbase and third-row delete. This new model is made for hardcore off-road fun, with two rows of seats and room for only five people. With this configuration, the new Land Cruiser can handle more hardcore off-roading than before without becoming cumbersome.
Will Toyota build the BLC for NASA?
Like other government-backed entries, the new Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser might make it to the Moon, or it could end up being nothing more than a celebratory model for the Calty Design team. Either way, this Land Cruiser-inspired vehicle is pretty cool and could be a leading product for lunar driving during the next mission to the lunar surface.
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