The Giz Wiz, who has never owned a car in this life, visits the New York International Auto Show.

Since I'm not planning on buying a car (probably ever - I live in the heart of New York City) I go to the International Auto Show looking for the unusual and inventive, and that's easy to find there. For example, I love the Concept Cars and we'll talk about and see video of two of them.

The Toyota says their FT-4X Concept is a Modern 4x4 Toolbox for the Most Intrepid Urbanites. With its long list of unique functionalities and compact design, the FT-4X is the seamless conduit of popular Casualcore – rather than hardcore – outings by anyone, anytime. As you'll see in the video, many devices are multi-functional, like domelights that popout and become flashlights. One of my favorites is the rear hatch, an engineering marvel they call Multi-Hatch, it opens horizontally in Urban Mode, and vertically in Outdoor Mode. Urban Mode splits the hatch in half and makes for easier curbside gear loading when clearance is limited. Outdoor Mode opens the one-piece hatch upward, creating an impromptu shelter from the elements. A satisfying mechanical touch is a rotating handle that users turn to select its opening mode. Also in this concept car, one of the panels holds cold items, and the other panel, hot items. Watch the video to see more of the features. Again, as a concept car, it may nver see the light of production. But components of this car could make it into future models.

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/p2ZQMRzalfQ

Designing the Toyota FT-4X Concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXCYJgw6Efg