Official: Toyota FT-1 Concept / First New Supra Prototype Spotted!

[czar07]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

You do know the LC will be built on a shorten LS platform.

I didnt actually. Do you have a linky?

[vh_supra26]

Toyota Enthusiast, its time to do some lobbying!!!

Set aside the fact that concept cars like the Toyota FT-1 never make it to production with all of their promises intact. There still is strong evidence to suggest that our March 2013 print issue cover car is merely a design study, never destined for serial production. After all, Toyota doesn’t need it. It can clearly continue to rack up impressive sales figures without a true sports car in its lineup beyond the Scion FR-S.

Toyota’s most recent numbers show it leading all U.S. automakers in retail sales, ending the year up 7 percent overall amid a rebounding economy. The only Toyota model with negative sales for the year was the Venza. The success comes on the backs of vehicles such as the segment-leading Camry (which sold 408,000 units in 2013), Corolla, and RAV4—a trio of best-sellers we have often accused of being bland and boring. And let’s not even talk about the success of the Prius.

So why would Toyota invert the formula of high volume and critical reviews for low volume and enthusiast acclaim? Because Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has stated repeatedly that the brand needs to assert its sporting credentials, and Toyota Motor Sales (the U.S. operation) already has the blueprint for success.

Back in 2003, in the same Detroit convention hall that hosted the debut of the FT1, Toyota rolled out the FJ concept (shown below), a retro off-roader that received such overwhelming critical and public acclaim, it was rushed into production with only minor changes.

As with the FT-1, the FJ concept was penned in California, at Toyota’s Calty Design Center. The FJ concept traded heavily on the styling cues of a legendary Toyota (the FJ40 Land Cruiser), and made it to production with many of the icon’s core values intact as well. The resulting FJ Cruiser debuted in 2005, and not only looked badass, but quickly became the must-have 4x4 in the segment for a spell. It catapulted Toyota back into direct competition with Jeep, capturing wannabe and hard-core enthusiasts alike and creating its own cottage industry in the aftermarket. The FJ Cruiser goes away after the 2014 model year with no update in sight, but it remains a compelling tale of how to authentically and credibly mass-market a vehicle.

With the FT-1, Toyota is poised for such success once again. It has the blueprints from the FJ and an icon in the Supra. To this day, mention the Supra and a certain subset of the motoring public gets weepy for those early Japanese imports that offered high technology, fun, and reliability in a shapely, reasonably priced, rear-drive package. Sure, mission creep bloated the last-generation Supra beyond sustainability, but it still holds near-mythological status in pockets of the world from the Emirates to Encino.

Toyota USA does not need to develop a business case for another low-volume seller, which is what the FJ Cruiser was and a production FT-1 would likely be. It can get along just fine peddling its Camrys, Corollas, and RAV4s to the masses that buy them.

But if it wants to bring back the sporting excitement that Akio demands, it should start with a production version of the FT-1. For that to happen, you have to love the concept and let Toyota know. Do you? If so, let us know in the comments below.

http://blogs.motortrend.com/1403_toy...e_lohdown.html

[SnapOv3st3r]

Got my FT-1 in GT6 the other day with a lap time of 1:31.282 with skid recovery On. With Skid Recovery off, a 1:33.xxx

[Nevermore]

A little insider information here, though I'd take it suspiciously at best because my dad likes to make things up, or act like he knows everything, but according to him they already have the green light to produce this car. Obviously it's far from production, but apparently they're moving it forward.

[clayrush]

I already made a new savings account with my bank for my down payment.

[NemesisPrime909]

Originally Posted by clayrush

I already made a new savings account with my bank for my down payment.

i will be doing the same when i get my next paycheck

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by SnapOv3st3r

Got my FT-1 in GT6 the other day with a lap time of 1:31.282 with skid recovery On. With Skid Recovery off, a 1:33.xxx

I bought 2, the white one and then the blue one b/c it looked so damn sexy!

At Willow Springs, all driver's assists off, I was able to get a high 1:25 and I suck at that game!

[zigzagz94]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

Yes I am aware of that. Those numbers were not of the actual concept itself. It came from the GT6 game that some posted on Supraforums.

Yea I think the confusion is whether the numbers from GT6 are based off the dimensions of the concept or the actual production version. If they're based off the concept then we should expect the production specs to be 10% less. I wasn't saying you were wrong or anything but a lot of people were looking at your post and commenting on how the car was so large.

[SnapOv3st3r]

Originally Posted by RRnold

I bought 2, the white one and then the blue one b/c it looked so damn sexy!

At Willow Springs, all driver's assists off, I was able to get a high 1:25 and I suck at that game!

What was your lap time on the actual Seasonal event?

I took it around the Nurburg last night with Sport Soft tyres, upped the brakes to 7. Ran a 7:17 (would have been a 7:16 if not for rubbing the inside of the last corner and causing the rear to break loose).

I noticed the car only has 6 gears in GT6 and the pictures of the concept steering wheel in real life has 7. Gearing felt great on the Burg though.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by zigzagz94

Yea I think the confusion is whether the numbers from GT6 are based off the dimensions of the concept or the actual production version. If they're based off the concept then we should expect the production specs to be 10% less. I wasn't saying you were wrong or anything but a lot of people were looking at your post and commenting on how the car was so large.

I see,

I think its the game car, I mean if it was for the actually concept than why didn't Toyota just release it in the press release when the car was unveiled?

Here are the numbers compared to the old Supra.

Toyota FT-1 Concept
Length- 4,675 mm (184.05 in)
Width- 1,970 mm (77.55 in)
Height: 1,225 mm 48.22 in)
Wheelbase: 2,740 mm (107.87 in)

MK4 Toyota Supra
Length: 4,515 mm (177.8 in)
Width: 1,811 mm (71.3 in)
Height: 1,265 mm (49.8 in)
Wheelbase: 2,550 mm (100.4 in)

[vh_supra26]

If I did my math right. Here are the number - 10% and than compared to the MK4, RC350 and Toyota 86.

Toyota FT-1 Concept (From GT6)
Length- 184.05 in
Width- 77.55 in
Height: 48.22 in
Wheelbase: 107.87 in

Toyota FT-1 (10% less)
Length- 165.64 in
Width- 69.3 in
Height: 43.39 in
Wheelbase: 97.08 in

MK4 Toyota Supra
Length: 177.8 in
Width: 71.3 in
Height: 49.8 in
Wheelbase: 100.4 in

Lexus RC350
Length: 185 in
Width: 72 in
Height: 55 in
Wheelbase: 107 in

Toyota 86
Length: 166.9 in
Width: 69.9 in
Height: 50.6 in
Wheelbase : 101.2 in

The new numbers would make it shorter than the Toyota 86.

[Guff]

I doubt the FT1 is gonna be smaller than the FRS, so perhaps the 10% is a bit off. The listed dimensions in GT seem pretty spot on, really.

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by Guff

I doubt the FT1 is gonna be smaller than the FRS, so perhaps the 10% is a bit off. The listed dimensions in GT seem pretty spot on, really.

Agreed. The Lotus Europa and the Lambo Contauch are the lowest cars I have ever seen with a ridiculous height of about 42 1/2 inches. I cannot see the FT-1 being 43 inches tall. I suspect the car will be near the size of the LFA. It will be far too expensive for me to even consider buying so I am sort of meh about it.

Bring on the next MR2!

[zigzagz94]

Originally Posted by Guff

I doubt the FT1 is gonna be smaller than the FRS, so perhaps the 10% is a bit off. The listed dimensions in GT seem pretty spot on, really.

Agreed at 10% it would be ridiculously small. Using VH supra's numbers I could see maybe 5% which is smaller than the last supra but still larger than the GT-86.


What we need is the actual dimensions of the concept car shown in Detroit and then take 10% off of that.


Do we know what platform it's going to based on because looking at VH's numbers it's almost spot on in length and wheelbase with the RC350 suggesting they are related. I really hope not because the RC is a freaking fat pig at 3970 lbs. If it's based off of a stretched GT-86 platform then we could see a relatively light supra.