Oct. 29, 1981

TOYOTA INTRODUCES CARINA AND CRESTA MODELS
WITH "FRIEND-MATIC" OR DUAL ACCELERATOR PEDALS
FOR DRIVERS WITH LEG HANDICAPS

All Five Toyota Sales Channels to Offer Special Cars

TOKYO―Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd., jointly announced the domestic sale beginning today of Carina and Cresta models with a "Friend-matic" driver aid device that allows drivers with handicaps in both legs to drive using only their hands. Also announced were models in the same two small-size passenger car series with dual accelerator pedals that allow a person unable to use his or her right leg to operate the accelerator using the left leg. Toyota has previously marketed models of the Corolla, Sprinter and Corona passenger cars outfitted with the Friend-matic device or dual accelerator pedal.

With the addition of the Carina and Cresta Friend-matic and dual accelerator pedal models, all five Toyota domestic sales channels will now offer cars specially designed for disabled drivers. The "Toyota" dealerships will market the Carina version, "Toyopet" dealerships the Corona, "Corolla" dealerships the Corolla, "Auto" dealerships the Sprinter, and "Vista" dealerships the Cresta.

The Toyota Friend-matic has a control arm located just left of the steering wheel (see drawing) that allows the driver to control by hand the accelerating and braking operations normally controlled by the feet. In addition, turn signals, horn and other operations are clustered in one location to facilitate manual operation for drivers with handicaps in both legs.

In the models with dual accelerator pedals, a supplementary pedal on the left side is linked to the accelerator pedal, enabling use of the left foot to operate the accelerator.

The models marketed today include one Friend-matic and one dual accelerator pedal model based on the Toyota Cresta 2000 Super Deluxe 4-speed AT passenger car, and two Friend-matic and two accelerator pedal models based on the Carina 1800 SG 4-speed AT (sedan and coupe). This brings the total of Friend-matic and dual accelerator pedal Toyota cars available to nine versions of five models.

Toyota has also developed a "Handi-Cab" version of the Hi-Ace (two models) and Lite-Ace (four models), which allows persons confined to wheelchairs to board or alight from the vehicle while remaining in their chairs. In all, seven Toyota vehicle models have thus been redesigned with the handicapped in mind, with a total of 24 versions available in all.

Note: The models described in this release are available only in Japan.

A general outline of the Carina and Cresta models with Friend-matic or dual accelerator pedal, as well as an overall list of Toyota vehicles for the handicapped follows.

Outline of Friend-Matic Feature
The Toyota Friend-matic device was jointly developed by Toyota Motor Co., Toyota Motor Sales Co. and Toyota Auto Body Co., on the basis of exhaustive safety and feasibility studies. Its unique and innovative Toyota technology includes the following special features (see drawing).
1. For easier boarding and alighting, the Carina and Cresta models equipped with Friend-matic are provided with a hand grip on the driver's side, and in four-door models the passenger's seat in front is the "walk-in" type. These features also make it possible to carry a wheelchair aboard more easily. Power steering, remote-controlled fender mirrors and other equipment is standard on these models, thus also contributing to easier driving.
2. For reducing fatigue from long periods of driving, the control arm has a fixed setting and the accelerator mechanism maintains a set throttle opening. This means the driver does not use his left hand as much, which reduces fatigue.
3. For improved safety, an electromagnetic-type brake lock mechanism is utilized which assures that the brake is in a locked condition when the car is stopped. Safety is also improved during parking, and unnecessary use of the battery is prevented, through use of a warning buzzer that sounds if the foot brake is left "depressed" when the driver alights. In other words, the driver "depresses" the foot brake through the control arm, and if he forgets to release the foot brake after setting the hand brake and turning off the ignition before alighting, a buzzer sounds to remind him that the foot brake is still depressed. Since that means the brake lights in back are lighted, if the driver does not release the foot brake the car battery could be worn down.
4. The turn signals are fitted with an automatic cancel device which prevents the driver from turning one or the other on and then forgetting them.

Structure of Toyota Friend-Matic Unit

Details of Integrated Control Switch

Outline of Dual Accelerator Pedals Feature
The dual accelerator pedals device was developed specifically for drivers unable to use their right foot. In this device, supplementary pedals are provided on the left and right sides so that the accelerator pedal can be depressed with either foot. If the driver wishes to use his left foot, he first pushes the push-pull knob (1) fixed to the side of the dashboard, which activates the stopper (2) and locks the right-side supplementary accelerator pedal (7). The left-side supplementary accelerator pedal (6) is linked to the accelerator pedal (8), making left-foot operation possible. For regular right-foot operation of the accelerator pedal, the push-pull knob (1) is pulled, which locks the left-side supplementary accelerator pedal (6) by stopper (3), releases the stopper (2) on the right-side supplementary accelerator pedal (7) and makes regular right-foot operation possible.

Dual Accelerator Pedals

Rundown of Toyota Vehicles for the Handicapped

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