Toyota. A name that we’ve grown up with through all our lives. For some it is a name from Japan that is dedicated to economic vehicles that get you from point A to point B. For others, it is a name that has a heritage from great power and performance that was lost in the late 90’s.
Lexus had created the LF-A. The super car that defied many aspects of what Lexus had done in the past. Being a plan of the past to revive this as the new Supra, the V10 powered RWD monster that had many technological advances in a Japanese built chassis with super car specs which in end became its own name. The LF-A.
Scion had released the FR-S in the U.S. as well as the BR-Z (Subaru), with the Boxer 4 power plant in all versions (including the GT-86). This light weight go getter was the ideal sports car to bring back the sporty performance that many manufacturers lack at a fairly reasonable price point at this day of age.
Of course the LF-A is a superb engineer’s dream build but at an extreme cost and limitation of stock with no further production. The FR-S/BR-Z/GT-86 is an affordable vehicle that is a super agile king of the corners but lacks in power. What is the missing link in the line up? The FT-1 is a possible answer to the future as the name FT-1 (Future Project 1) that Calty Design in Newport Beach, CA had created. It is a glimpse of what is possible for the future of Toyota as most concept cars are made for.
This front end is a change from the normal curves that Toyota offers. This new nose is a love/hate relationship as it is different leaning towards an F1 style front end or the front of the Mach5 from Speed Racer.
A closer look reveals that LED lights are the way to go on most vehicles nowadays. Aerodynamics is a must in sport car design as each vent proves a purpose in function as well as the large cooling fans.
The interior shows that Toyota is going for the future of advanced technology as the HUM (Heads-Up Meter) is a step forward into safety and focus of the driver and passenger(s).
As this is a newly released concept vehicle, we do not know what motor is being used in the FT-1. As many references of the Supra have popped up during this unveiling, the FT-1 may sport an inline 6 but unlikely the original 2JZ from the old generation. There have been talks about Toyota and BMW creating a cooperative build such as Toyota and Subaru have in the recent past.
Although this may not be the next Supra, it may be in the same lineage or to pay homage to the original street/track monster was designed to do. Many fans always say they should bring back the Supra or the MR2. These were the cars of the past as they were created for a generation ahead of its time. As newer cars are being created, they are made for a new generation with new powerplants and technology. For example, the latest GT-R was called a GT-R and not a Skyline.
Renderings of the FT-1 have already been released minutes after the vehicle was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. Here is an amazing rendering by Hugo Silva Designs.
The FT1 is still a concept and first of its kind of concept that I hope will be made and as many others do as well. It may be years until we see this concept come to full production and as all final production models go, they all are changed from head to toe from the original design. I hope that in the future, many manufacturers will start to bring back the sports cars that we’ve all grown to love.
Photo credit: Nate Hassler Photo, Hugo Silva Designs, and Andrew Kuntjoro
Video credit: Motor Trend