Toyota had big plans for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but the games were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and things have been decidedly muted now that they’re finally taking place. While the company was originally slated to roll out a fleet of approximately 3,700 vehicles for the Olympics, we really haven’t heard much about them lately.
That’s changing today as a baseball-themed Toyota is making the rounds on social media. Designed to transport relief pitchers, the model is apparently based on the APM Mobility Vehicle. However, this version is far more radical as it features an open design as well as a single rear seat that is designed to resemble a catcher’s mitt. Elsewhere, there’s astroturf-like flooring with the outline of a baseball field.
The whole thing is pretty ridiculous, but ESPN noted the Cleveland Indians were the first major league team to use a car to bring relief pitchers to the mound in 1960. However, bullpen cars have largely fallen out of favor in the past few decades. As for the APM, Toyota bills it as a low-speed, short-distance electric vehicle which is ideal for transporting visitors and staff within large events and venue grounds. Normal versions have three rows of seating with the first dedicated to a center-mounted driver’s seat. The second and third rows provide space for five passengers, while the seats can also be folded to accommodate a wheelchair in the second row.
While the bullpen car is glorious overkill, it presumably only has a range of 100 km and a top speed of 19 km/h.
