Toyota FCV Hydrogen Fuel Cell car going rallying – sort of

Toyota has fitted out its FCV hydrogen fuel cell car with a hefty dose of rally kit and are planning to have it run at the final installment of this year’s Japanese Rally Championship.

We’re not for a moment suggesting that a hydrogen fuel cell car couldn’t be competitive on the world rally stage, but without much bigger tanks and much more powerful motors the Toyota FCV – heading for launch in the UK in 2015 – wouldn’t stand a chance.

But that hasn’t stopped Toyota fitting out their FCV with Japanese Rally decals, chunky off-road tyres, mud guards and protective underbody plates ahead of an appearance at the Shinsiro Rally this weekend in Japan, the the final installment of this year’s Japanese Rally Championship.

But despite its looks and extra kit, Toyota aren’t daft enough to try competing, and instead the FCV ‘Rally’ is being used as a ‘zero’ car, checking the 285km course out ahead of the rally itself.

Despite not competing, the rally is a good showcase for the FCV as Toyota prepare to launch it in Japan – in areas that have a hydrogen refuelling network – at around £40k.

Toyota has already confirmed the FCV will go on sale in the UK in summer 2015 – at a price and specification yet to be decided – and we’ll no doubt see Toyota seeking out similarly high-profile events in the UK, Europe and the USA to promote their FCV before then.