Toyota FT-HS Concept: new Toyota Supra preview
Toyota’s FT-HS Concept is a separate vehicle from the Lexus LF-A, ending talk that the Lexus LF-A will be a Supra-replacement. Now it’s clear that Toyota’s replacement for the Supra is separate from the new Lexus supercar . The Toyota FT-HS Concept is about the size of a Lexus SC430 and is a rear wheel drive vehicle that employs an uprated version of the hybrid powertrain found in the Lexus GS450h. The hybrid power train is a combination of a 3.5 liter DOHC V6 petrol engine making 292hp mated to a 650V water-cooled electric motor making 197hp peak output.
The engineers of the Toyota FT-HS Concept had a few reasons for putting that hybrid power train in there. They had more than just environmental and fuel efficiency reasons for adding an electric motor to a conventional big displacement engine sports car formula. The sudden burst of power from an electric motor which runs at peak torque at all times can provide the driver a feeling of power boost similar to nitrous oxide.
The body style of the Toyota FT-HS Concept is a 2+2, and has a relatively long wheelbase for a sports car. It isn’t a bad thing, that way the battery pack can be positioned more strategically along the wheelbase, helping to achieve that magical 50:50 weight balance. Some of the styling cues are pretty funky, for example the dark thing you see on the front hood is actually the 3.5 liter V6’s engine cover poking out through the front hood. There is also a targa-style retractable roof, but retracting it renders the rear seats unusable.
More photos after the jump.
January 12, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
wow……cool……………
really a killer
January 12, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Hrmmm…very interesting. Can’t wait to see this concept to get into production. If ever it makes it….
January 12, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
OMG! Is this for real? Wow Good Job Toyota!
January 12, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
claustrophobic driver position? I really don’t think that is the final version. It looks good though.
January 12, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
The front and rear bumpers look like sweepers, but the side profile is really nice, plus the innovative roof; pure coolness. Interior is nice too!
January 12, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
why the seat has aline in between? I bet it won’t be comfortable to sit on it.
January 12, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
the designers simply ran out of inspiration and ideas…. this is what they had in mind while designing it:” no…wait, dont do that, you’ll look like the xxx car… and wait… careful with that styling.. it looks like a xxxx …. duh~~”
January 12, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
sharp like a samurai sword!
this CAR meant to KILL!!!
UGLY!!! UGLY!!! UGLY!!!
UGLY!!! UGLY!!! UGLY!!!
UGLY!!! UGLY!!! UGLY!!!
January 12, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
look again…. its kinda remind me of the 8th Civic…
the overall shape, i mean…
January 12, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
personally this car stuns… really sharp and it seems tat it can cut anything into pieces… nice nice! but still waiting for its rival – GTR in 2008 as well…
January 12, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
whoa….looks freaking ugly from front view…some kind of B grade sci fi movie spaceship design….isit design in the US…kekekek
January 13, 2007 @ 12:31 am
wow~ look at tht gearknob.. it looks like sumthing
January 13, 2007 @ 12:32 am
Knight Rider 2008!!!
January 13, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Wow…..Knight Rider 2008!!!
January 13, 2007 @ 12:37 am
ooh thats a bit too loud.
January 13, 2007 @ 12:56 am
Holly shit this is beautiful. Two ques they HAVE to bring to the new Supra. First tht killer headlamp and second tht pop up engine cover. And adding an electric motor to supplement low end torque….. brilliant. I nvr thought of electric motor tht way before. Now i see it with a whole new look.
January 13, 2007 @ 1:55 am
the car looks very short..
January 13, 2007 @ 3:32 am
@armandd :
Quote ,
“The body style of the Toyota FT-HS Concept is a 2+2, and has a relatively long wheelbase for a sports car.”
Short??
January 13, 2007 @ 9:25 am
So is this car is at 197hp only at peak torgue? btw wats the peak torgue and how long is the elasticity?
The look is great.
January 13, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Looks like spaceship more than a supercar
The backseats can only accommodate 2 children..
January 13, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Huh !! Stylish car ever I see…..
Not very cool but i like the design…
January 13, 2007 @ 10:36 am
A refreshing new design for a sporty looking vehicle. Seat and steering looks different indeed.
Come on, this is just a concept. The production model would not carry its features and lines fully.
January 13, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Another stupid car that will never see the roads.. especially in POTHOLE BOLEH-Land…
January 13, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
wookie00 said,
January 13, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Another stupid car that will never see the roads..
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Ditto.
Toyota, better buckle up and give us something REAL.
January 13, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
this car has a very ‘busy’ kind of design, i mean, just look at porsche 911 or nissan 350z, they have a much smoother and fewer surfaces isn’t it?
January 13, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
if it does go into production, i can imagine a car that is pretty fast, some-what eco freindly, probably entertaining on twisty roads but ultimately butt ugly and i can predict the engine is going to sound like any toyota engine- flat and lifeless.
January 13, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
see how the moon roof will do !.. nice way..
January 13, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
since the is250. toyota is beggining to amaze me. the is-F and this one do make an impression.
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i do hope it will be within buying range. i.e rx8 or 350z price.
or problably it will compete with the upgraded 350z turbocharged or the bigger engined which ever it will be.
but with the hybrid engine tech problably wont be cheap. probably near gtr price
by the way….the supra also had a ‘cockpit’
January 14, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
The headlamp is really sharp !
Don’t know can afford the tayar or not. Maybe 22 inch big ? Close to RM2000 per piece.
January 15, 2007 @ 9:27 am
armandd said,
January 13, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
this car has a very ‘busy’ kind of design, i mean, just look at porsche 911 or nissan 350z, they have a much smoother and fewer surfaces isn’t it?
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you’re right. *shakes head* I think Toyota gave a nice try but they somehow overdid it.
Supercar? I prefer a Porsche –
http://paultan.org/archives/2006/08/21/2007-porsche-911-turbo-997/
over this one lol
January 15, 2007 @ 11:13 am
This car is super futuristic look.. But its nice.. really superb..
January 15, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Toyota trying to do a Bangle. Looks like no other tho.
January 15, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
hmmmmmm …..the new Toyota Supra with sepet eyes….. interesting design…
January 15, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
oh my goodness…. it looks like it got into an accident.
too many fussy slants and angles.
the japanese haven’t got into the business of designing beautiful cars.
the only japaneses cars that can do proper designs are nissan, but even that they have to rely on their french partner renault for the designers.
January 15, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
For the technology, it’s so much good. Otherwise, it’s look like an autoshow car with custom local extreme bodykit. Maybe this FT-HS Supra win for stylish big coupe, rather than it’s original supra generation. For the real sport motorist, they want the original aura of sportcar (speed and masculine looks). Give this Supra to fashion specialist sudahla….
January 25, 2007 @ 10:31 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW !!!!!!! Fast & Furious! I want it! THX Toyota
February 19, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
SALUT to the designer.
May 5, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
They nailed the exterior of the car, wouldn’t change a thing about the outside. On the inside, the whole interior has to go, its not practical, comfortable, or appealing… The fold down targa top is a must!!!!!!!!! Thats what sold most 3rd generation supras and it needs to be on this one.
July 8, 2007 @ 11:10 am
COOL MAN..TOYOTA ALWAYS GIVE SURPRISES TO THEIR FANS. MY GOD..DA CAR IS SO CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE..
GOOD JOB TOYOTA!!
February 28, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
i hear allot of complaints. i think they generally did a good job.
for instance; at least the interior is something fresh and new. it might look like a spaceship because they wanted it to. when you look at the interior you imagine yourself at the cockpit of a supership effortlessly dodging space junk in a mine field, at light speed.
the design would make anyone feel like a 23rd century pilot.
the driver would obviously feel in control, with everything in reach.
it might look claustrophobic, and your right!
do you really want to feel like your in the passenger seat with everyone else, or would you want to feel like you are separated.
my answer is this. you might feel separated from your guests but you will feel like you are a part of the road and the car.
your passengers will just wish they could be sitting where you are. its the real drivers seat of the future.
as far as the interior lines, hmmmmm well, they might be a little avant gaurd
but they do make sense. if you follow each line from where it starts, it continues throughout the cockpit to create a shape that is repeated throughout the cockpit.
when i look at the new z i love the exterior, but when i saw the interior i was really let down because i pretty much expected it to look like that.
i think that carrying on design ques from the past is a must, but not to the point of “almost the same”.
when i look at the interior of the nissan gt-r I WANT TO EITHER THROW UP OR THANK CHEVY FOR A GREAT DESIGN!
talk about busy and cheep looking. all of the dash parts look like rubber legos pieced together with elmers glue. how can you look at the road when you have to look at all the stupid crap in your car.
even top gear was very disjointed with the gt-r .
to me a super car should have clean lines on the outside and even cleaner more simplified lines on the inside.
so in that respect, the new supra will suck.
but as far as creativeness and leading technology goes, the ft-hs is amazing.
don’t think of it as a supercar. think of it as a road craft.
come on, it was probably designed by a very talented 27 year old from art center pasadena that has dreamed for a long time of what the future of auto design will be. if i were him i would be calling my friends and cracking open a twelve pack, cause his dream just came true.
well done!