In celebration of the 50th anniversary of CALTY Design Research, the American outpost of Toyota’s global design network, the Japanese automaker unveiled the Baby Lunar Cruiser. CALTY was Toyota’s first major automotive design studio on the west coast of the US and many successful models, from the 1978 Toyota Celica to the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, and countless concept cars were built here. The Baby Lunar Cruiser (BLC) combines design cues from the original FJ40 Land Cruiser with the futuristic capabilities of an interplanetary exploration vehicle. The concept draws inspiration from the real Lunar Cruiser developed by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota.
Driven by electric motors on the wheels and controlled by dual joysticks, the BLC’s compact footprint and airless tyres give it unrivalled manoeuvrability. It also boasts exceptional outward visibility thanks to its projecting glass roof and panoramic augmented reality dashboard display. Historic cues include a grille with ‘Toyota’ lettering at the front, complete with a full array of cameras and lidar/radar sensors, and a split tailgate configuration at the rear.
Highly adjustable Spaceframe seats and panels give the interior the flexibility to adapt to any type of adventure. Today, a team of exterior and interior designers, CMF (colour, material, finish) designers, clay modellers, digital sculptors, visualisation specialists, paint specialists, CAD/CAM specialists, and a research/planning team work at CALTY. “As we continue our journey that will take us from the automotive age to the mobility age, there is one thing I feel I can say with certainty,” says Simon Humphries, Chief Branding Officer and Head of Design at Toyota Motor Corporation. “CALTY will always be there at the forefront.”
