LOS ANGELES — Toyota brought its Back to the Future-inspired Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to the Los Angeles Auto Show direct from the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The idea was to re-imagine Doc Brown’s time machine for today’s adventurers, complete with gullwing doors and a heads-up display of the time-traveling destination.
“The on sale date was October 21, 2015,” said Toyota Product Specialist Maggie Clark. “That date was really significant because it was the day that Doc and Marty from Back to the Future Part II traveled into the future. If you remember, the Back to the Future vehicle was powered by garbage. The Mirai is powered by hydrogen that can come from a landfill that produces biogas, which is garbage and then you use the biogas, which produces hydrogen.”
The special edition of the Mirai comes with custom 19-inch LED wheels and tires, custom air-ride suspension, a heads-up destination clock display, integrated tablet replacing the original equipment head unit, flux capacitor housed in a custom center console.
Back to the Future fans won’t be able to get their hands on this Mirai, as it was created just for the 30th anniversary of the movie. However, the 2016 Mirai is available to customers now.
It comes equipped with a 113-kilowatt electric motor that produces 247 lb.-ft. of torque. The new Mirai can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 9 seconds. The fuel cell vehicle can be refilled with hydrogen in about three to five minutes, creating enough electricity to drive for 312 miles.
“It comes with three years of complimentary fuel from Toyota,” Clark explained. “In order to refuel, you have to go to a designated fueling station. It’s like a regular gas station that carries hydrogen. You swipe a debit card that we give you from Toyota, then you attach the nozzle to your vehicle, fuel up and you’re on your way. A nationwide rollout depends on the hydrogen refueling infrastructure.”
Toyota is selling the Mirai within the state of California, where most of the hydrogen stations are located, for $57,500 before government incentives. However, sales will begin shortly in the Northeast and will then expand nationally thereafter.
> Watch our video report on the “Back to the Future” Toyota Mirai
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The special edition of the Mirai comes it gull wing doors. (Photo by Jason Rzucidlo/AmericaJR.com)
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Toyota Mirai body and frame (Photo by Jason Rzucidlo/AmericaJR.com)
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Hydrogen tank and battery from the Toyota Mirai (Photo by Jason Rzucidlo/AmericaJR.com)