Toyota has introduced a new concept, the LQ, which seeks to create an intimate connection between the driver and the vehicle. In other words, the car wants to be your best friend, literally.

The concept advances the automaker’s Concept-i car, developed by the automaker's Calty Design Research center, which was presented at CES in 2017 and featured an onboard virtual assistant named Yui. The LQ shares the same design as the Concept-i, but thanks to the Toyota Research Institute, it now offers more advanced autonomous driving capabilities. The car is also more responsive, learning and adapting to the driver’s conduct and preferences.

Yui interacts with the driver via a voice interface, adjusting lighting and air-conditioning, and even releasing fragrances to elevate the driver’s mood, improve the relationship between car and driver, and ensure maximum alertness when the driver decides to take over from the LQ’s onboard autonomous driving mode.

In terms of autonomy, the LQ has been designed with SAE Level 4 self-driving features, meaning it can handle driving tasks without interference from the driver. It also includes “Automated Valet” tech, which has been developed with Panasonic, enabling the car to travel independently between parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off drivers that need enhanced support and accessibility.

Toyota still expects the driver to be present at times, therefore, the LQ includes a newly designed seating system that inflates air bladders integrated into the seat to make the driver sit up and that blasts cold air when focus is needed. In other instances, the air bladders inflate and lift gradually to relax the driver.

Color-coded interior lights enable Yui to communicate with the driver and passengers by changing colors to specify which person the virtual assistant is speaking to. Also, exterior lights, including a programmable pattern projector in the headlights, visually communicate with people outside the car. Meanwhile, the dash-mounted displays on the LQ are OLED, for improved visibility and power consumption, and an emission scrubbing system boosts interior air quality cleanliness.

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The Toyota LQ will make its official debut on October 23 at the Tokyo Motor Show.