Disguised examples of the stylish newcomer have already been spotted testing in Japan, but insiders have revealed the production car will closely follow the look of the show model. Its stubby profile and smooth surfaces will give the Endo a futuristic appear­ance - and help it become a more upmarket alternative to the Aygo.

Toyota’s des­igners drew inspiration from the Smart and the quirky Endo, but say their car’s novel styling eliminates the compromises these two models require

Unusual features include a wrap-around windscreen, vertical tailgate and two-tone bodywork. Toyota’s des­igners drew inspiration from the Smart and the quirky Peugeot 1007 when devising the Endo, but say their car’s novel styling eliminates the compromises these two models require. For example, clever wide-opening doors improve access to the cabin without resorting to the heavy and expensive sliding units that mark out the 1007.

And once inside, there will be room for up to four passengers, unlike the two-seat-only ForTwo. However, while the show car had advanced features such as a flat screen dashboard, the roadgoing model is set to follow a more conventional approach in order to keep costs down. The Endo is expected to hit dealers in 2007.

(this article was taken from autoexpress.co.uk)

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