Toyota has finally unveiled its FCV hydrogen fuel cell sedan and its Japanese price. We won't have to wait too long to see the first of these revolutionary vehicles on the roads. It will go on sale in Japan in April 2015 and will come to the US and Europe later that summer.

In Japan, the FCV will be priced at roughly 7 million yen before taxes ($68,810 at current exchange rates). However, Toyota makes it clear in the press release that we shouldn't try to extrapolate US MSRP from that figure, saying that official pricing for the US and Europe has not yet been determined. As will be the case in the US, sales in Japan will be limited to parts of the country that already have a hydrogen refueling infrastructure (that means you, California).

The production version of the FCV looks almost identical to the concept from last year's Tokyo Motor Show. There is a new vertical strip of LEDs at each corner of the front air intake and real sideview windows, instead of the nubs on the prototype. The weird squiggles from the rear trim are also gone in favor of a more production-ready look, but the taillights survive the changes mostly intact.

The automaker is keeping most of the specs about the FCV a secret for now as well, but it is confirmed a few key details. It promises performance for the sedan on par with a gasoline engine and a cruising range of about 435 miles, according to the Japanese government's testing procedure. In our test drive of the prototype, we found the performance was gas-sedan-like with some EV aspects. The official range in other regions will differ. Toyota is promising that it takes just three minutes to top up the sedan's hydrogen tanks, highlighting one major advantage hydrogen has over electric vehicles: refueling time.

Scroll down to read the entire release and watch a brief promotional film from Toyota. Also, check out the gallery for all of the angles.
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Toyota Reveals Exterior, Japan Price of Fuel Cell Sedan

Toyota City, Japan, June 25, 2014―Toyota Motor Corporation has revealed the exterior design and Japan pricing of its hydrogen fuel cell sedan, first unveiled as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.





Toyota has been developing fuel cell vehicles in-house for more than 20 years. Toyota's fuel cell system includes a proprietary FC Stack, which generates electricity from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and high-pressure hydrogen tanks. In 2002, Toyota began leasing the "Toyota FCHV", a fuel cell SUV, on a limited basis in Japan and the U.S.




2Testing performed with full hydrogen tank

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    • 1 Second Ago
      • 6 Months Ago
      It looks like Toyota believed the theory that the Prius sold well because it was weird looking, and they are doubling down on that. This boils down to a strange looking, $70000 Prius that runs on Natural Gas. Good luck with that.
      • 6 Months Ago
      I'm not a Toyota hater, but this is legitimately the ugliest car I've ever seen.
      • 6 Months Ago
      From a technology standpoint, this is great. I'm split about the benefits of hydrogen vs electric. Both are going to take a major technology breakthrough to really impact our use of fossil fuels on the road, but I think only by pursuing both will we actually make those breakthroughs. As for the design, I think Toyota has made a huge mistake. There's no two-ways about it; this is an ugly car. And for $70k people expect a lot more. Prius got away with its homliness because it wasn't too expensive, and ultimately it became part of the brand. But what Musk has proven is that design is just as important as technology, especially in the premium car market. Toyota could have at least made this more of a people-mover and tried to head Tesla off in that market, but instead this is just an ugly sedan that few people who have $70k to spend on a car would be seen dead in.
      • 6 Months Ago
      Good Lord that that thing is ugly! And they somehow made the rear just as bad as the front. The Honda Fuel cell sedan was actually quite attractive.
      • 6 Months Ago
      That front end is hopelessly ugly. There is no warmth, honesty, or cuteness to this car that Honda hydrogen car had, or Toyota's own all 3 Prius generations.
      • 6 Months Ago
      This thing makes the Aztek look good. Seriously, why did no one at Toyota notice its look and speak up?
      • 6 Months Ago
      What is wrong with Japanese designer? Are they blind?
      • 6 Months Ago
      Heh... heheh... BWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH! No, just no.
      • 6 Months Ago
      • 6 Months Ago
      At current hydrogen prices, how much will it cost to drive 100km? I'm not sure what the standard measurement is here... dollars per 100 km seems about right. If I drive my MX-5, roof open, the way the engineers at Mazda intended I enjoy the car, I get maybe 9 litres per 100 km of commuting - at $1.60 a litre, that's...$14.40 CDN per 100 km
        • 6 Months Ago
        There are no current ways to charge customers directly as of yet with the hydrogen stations, and that's why you'll see that all fuel cell vehicles come with "free" fuel service
          • 6 Months Ago
          There's a way to charge money (basically per fill-up), but a per kg charge is not allowed yet given there haven't been a certified way to measure yet. However, so far the current spot prices work out to about $12-15/kg (USD) judging from Northern California, Emeryville ($12-13/kg) and Southern California, Irvine ($14.95/kg) prices from late 2013. We don't know how far this car can go on a kg yet, but a Clarity goes 60 miles per kg. That works out to about $12.4-15.5/100km (USD) or $13.3-16.6/100km (CDN). For the US audience: 9l/100km is 26.1mpg. $1.60/liter (CDN) is $6.06/gallon (CDN) or $5.65/gallon.
      • 6 Months Ago
      I can't believe that's the production version. My LEAF might even be better looking, though it's a close call!
        • 3 Months Ago
        leaf is cutest looking car I've ever seen.  It's no contest.
      • 6 Months Ago
      Tesla must be very happy about this - the same price as a base model S, and that is one FUGLY car! Epic fail.
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