Toyota FT-1: From concept to (harsh) reality
During the first press day at the New York Auto Show, Toyota held a private event. The main attraction was the FT-1, a revolutionary concept unveiled last January in Detroit.
It was my first time seeing the superstar in such an intimate setting. Of all the presentations taking place in Detroit, the FT-1 had literally stolen all the headlines, thanks to its bold lines and the fact that it is built by Toyota! Yessir, that’s the same brand that makes the Avalon and the Prius.
If Toyota wanted people to know that going forward it will infuse its vehicles with more emotion, it couldn’t have done better. Akio Toyoda, president and CEO at Toyota, gave his designers one simple instruction for the concept car: "Make it cool." And cool it is!
The future Supra
It’s now common knowledge that the FT-1 will become the next Supra. The original was produced between 1978 and 2002, and it has never really been replaced. Rather than return to the past, Toyota is choosing to embrace the future with flair. In fact, the name FT-1 stands for “Future Toyota One.”
Unfortunately, my New York rendez-vous with the FT-1 did not include the chance to slip behind its wheel or talk to its engineers; the whole affair being more urbane than technical. Actually, it was entirely urbane, taking place in a trendy bar with security guards, pretty waitresses, extremely loud techno music by rapper Biz Markie, etc. This, however, didn’t prevent me from taking note of certain details that had escaped me in Detroit. Surprisingly, I found the FT-1 a little less attractive than I did in the excitement of its premiere last January. For example, I found its front F1-style “muzzle” extremely prominent, to the point of being too big. There are several pronounced air intakes, creating nice, deep cavities—which is only good if you like curves. It’s more like a McLaren P1 than an angular Lamborghini Aventador. But I wonder about the FT-1’s aerodynamics. The two highly visible fans in the front certainly can’t help much.
Tech talk
The FT-1 shown off in New York was clad in Pirelli PZero Nero tires, 245/35ZR21 in front and 305/30ZR21 in back. This is the same category as the Lamborghini Aventador, Camaro Z28 and SRT Viper. The perforated disc brakes are huge and split into two parts for better heat dissipation. The hood features a window pane in the middle, while several other pieces are made of carbon fibre. The designers included sizeable air intakes and vents. Engines have to inhale and exhale! In the back, there are two huge, round 2 1/2-inch storm-drain exhausts, while the massive diffusers help cool the brakes. The driver is treated to a Formula 1-style steering wheel in a cockpit where every millimetre screams high performance.
A bit of decency, please
Based on the car’s appearance, you wouldn’t expect its engine to be a 1.5-litre four-cylinder, even if it is turbocharged. Even though they have announced a hybrid drivetrain, the car is equipped with little touches that hint at a 3.5-litre V6 or even a V8. After all, the Toyota/Lexus catalogue includes a wide variety of engines. Less than 400 horsepower would be terribly sad for a car like this.
Paired with an electric motor and a serious battery pack, the four-cylinder can actually deliver some pretty impressive performance. However, I don’t think they would have bothered with so many air intakes for such limited displacement. And you also have to consider the rumble of an engine during acceleration. Nothing can replace a big old V8 (or at least a twin turbo inline-six) for that! The unit on display in New York was outfitted with a non-functional engine. From what I could glean, it will come with rear-wheel drive, or in some cases all-wheel drive.
An affordable super sports car?
There’s a catch to all this, or at least there seems to be, unless it’s all in my head. When the FT-1 was unveiled last January, Toyota management claimed that since this vehicle is a Toyota, it has to be affordable. Both its style and promise suggest a car priced at $150,000 or more. I just can’t picture this car, as it is currently being shown, selling for $50,000. To go for that price, it would need a smaller engine and be less technically advanced than its current lines would suggest. There would definitely be less carbon fibre used. Toyota might miss its target by creating disappointment or, at very least, by highlighting the dichotomy between reality and the image projected by this super sports car - unless Toyota truly manages to create an affordable supercar, like the Nissan GT-R. That would be great, wouldn’t it?
One thing is for sure, Toyota never does anything without thinking it through first. They are definitely introducing the FT-1 like this for a reason. The Japanese automaker has big plans for this car. Very big. They are incredibly proud of it. And we are definitely looking forward to taking their pride and joy for a drive—and not just on a screen!