Toyota showed off this concept electric vehicle, the FT-EV today at the Detroit Auto Show. And while it’s an adorable little micro-car concept that might never see the light of day, they used the opportunity to promise a pure electric vehicle by 2012.

Interestingly, they aren’t the only ones. Ford also promised a (very similar) BEV by 2012, with the same market (urban dwellers) in mind. Toyota hinted at a 100 mile range, the same as Fords promised BEV, but it looks as if Ford will be delivering the vehicle in a more traditional casing.

The FT-EV is based on Toyota’s iQ, a peppy little three-seater for young urbanites in Japan. It’s Toyota’s answer to the Smart Car, and the FT-EV, of course, is Toyota’s answer to the electric Smart Car. Though, the Smart EV should beat Toyota to the punch by at least a year.