Remember when Toyota built exciting cars? The Japanese automaker’s latest concept, the FT 86, looks back to those days with rear-wheel drive, sleek coupe styling and a whole lot of detailed body sculpting.
On display under the lights at the Geneva Motor Show, the latest version of the automaker's concept featured even more dynamic looks and accenting than the original version. Among the changes for the newest FT 86 were a now-mandatory LED string-lights made popular by Audi and additional, more aggressive styling cues.
Perhaps hoping to capture some of the momentum set forth by the Lexus LFA supercar, the FT 86 impressed showgoers with an aggressive shark-like fascia, dual-outlet exhaust, a rear splitter, large alloy wheels and rear spoiler. In all, the looks draw machines like the Nissan 370Z and now-cancelled BMW M Coupe to mind—and position the FT 86 as an affordable halo car.
Though Toyota hasn’t had a successful sports car in years, the Japanese automaker referenced machines like the Celica, MR2, and Supra in their verbage on the FT86. Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada adds: “With the FT-86 concept, I wanted to pass on the same feeling of joyful driving which embodied the Corolla Levin AE86 model.” Could we be looking at a new, highly-popular drift machine?
Toyota says the FT 86 is an entirely driver-oriented concept designed to capture the joy of driving through its looks, instant responses to driver inputs and overall precision. Extra attention to lightweight construction allow the FT 86 to use a smaller and more fuel-efficient engine to maximize performance, while simultaneously enhancing handling dynamics.
Power will come from a free-revving four-cylinder boxer engine that features compact dimensions and light weight, as well as a low centre of gravity. A six-speed manual is included.
Whaaaaa? Boxer engine?
You read that right. This staple powerplant of the Subaru brand is a key part of the FT 86’s development between the two automakers. By combining efforts on the FT 86, both Subaru and Toyota can be expected to sell their own variants of the model in the future.
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| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com |
On display under the lights at the Geneva Motor Show, the latest version of the automaker's concept featured even more dynamic looks and accenting than the original version. Among the changes for the newest FT 86 were a now-mandatory LED string-lights made popular by Audi and additional, more aggressive styling cues.
Perhaps hoping to capture some of the momentum set forth by the Lexus LFA supercar, the FT 86 impressed showgoers with an aggressive shark-like fascia, dual-outlet exhaust, a rear splitter, large alloy wheels and rear spoiler. In all, the looks draw machines like the Nissan 370Z and now-cancelled BMW M Coupe to mind—and position the FT 86 as an affordable halo car.
Though Toyota hasn’t had a successful sports car in years, the Japanese automaker referenced machines like the Celica, MR2, and Supra in their verbage on the FT86. Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada adds: “With the FT-86 concept, I wanted to pass on the same feeling of joyful driving which embodied the Corolla Levin AE86 model.” Could we be looking at a new, highly-popular drift machine?
Toyota says the FT 86 is an entirely driver-oriented concept designed to capture the joy of driving through its looks, instant responses to driver inputs and overall precision. Extra attention to lightweight construction allow the FT 86 to use a smaller and more fuel-efficient engine to maximize performance, while simultaneously enhancing handling dynamics.
Power will come from a free-revving four-cylinder boxer engine that features compact dimensions and light weight, as well as a low centre of gravity. A six-speed manual is included.
Whaaaaa? Boxer engine?
You read that right. This staple powerplant of the Subaru brand is a key part of the FT 86’s development between the two automakers. By combining efforts on the FT 86, both Subaru and Toyota can be expected to sell their own variants of the model in the future.
 |
| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com |