"From the first turn of the steering wheel, this car needs to be fun and special"

[Matador]

From performance car magazine (Dec '09)

Some tidbits from an interview with chief designer Tetsuya Tada-son;

When asked about 50/50 weight distribution
"Who cares about static weight distribution, what we said was important and I kid you not, is how well balanced it is on and beyond the limit. When you're drifting, is when you need a well balanced car and thats where we spent all efforts and attention, in getting this spot on"

"From the first turn of the steering wheel , this car needs to be fun and special"

"The FT-86 is GOING TO SET THE BENCHMARK for future Toyota's (next Yaris, Avensis and even Prius etc)

"The Criteria is fun and originality for those choosing cars. You can't do this overnight, the FT-86 is where we start"

"Using a flat 4 is intentional, I want the weight as low, as far back and tightly packed as possible. THe compact size of the engine gives us tremendous freedom in its positioning".

-Talk is that the concept weighs 1000 kg (2204 lbs)
-Weight is the obsession

-light body and low center of gravity is a priority
-front struts and rear double wishbone suspension
-electric power steering with interaction and feel

-Its all a bigger game plan for Toyota. Tada admitted that other brands are catching up to Toyota's eco lead. TO ensure it maintains a stand out difference they will be first to produce fun to drive properly entertaining green cars. The FT-86 is the beginning of this game plan.

Courtesy 1SickLex from CL!

[OldSkoolToys]

Can someone please source that weight quote to something directly from Tada's mouth? 1000kg!?!?

Electric power steering? i unno.....I'm not a big fan of making things electronic when good ole mechanical does just fine, even if it does save weight. Just something about more stinkin' wires and sensors to go wrong that bugs the hell outta me...

'sides, if this car is really as light and small as my AE86, it won't need PS. I took my working PS off this car years ago and it hasn't bothered me once.

[Jordo!]

2200 lbs + ~200 hp (for starters) would be nice.

[RegisBou]

2200lbs + 200hp (170-175whp) + mods for throttle response...OMG IM IN HEAVEN!! ahhh

Im sold.

[Matador]

I don't expect this car to weigh any less than 2600lbs.

[4agze]

This will be great, hope all this hype is making me want more

[Hachiroku]

Holy crap that weight estimate on the concept version is amazing!

[RegisBou]

Originally Posted by Hachiroku

Holy crap that weight estimate on the concept version is amazing!

I know! drool_______________________________

[White Comet]

Concepts don't need to be street legal, therefore not being weighed down by all the legal necessities, and are often made with unobtanium parts to well, generate excitement, that happen to also be ultra lightweight.

This car will not weigh 2200lbs when it comes out. It's a nice dream, though. I'd like to live in a 10 million dollar home in West Van that simultaneously overlooks the Pacific while being nestled in the mountains, but that's not gonna happen either.

[RegisBou]

Well think about it this way.

2200 lbs without all the extra stuff....how much can the extra stuff REALLY weigh? I mean...cruise control = 1/2lb we already established that LOL

I know CC isn't part of the EPA but how much can airbags weigh? They already have the airbag symbol in there so all they need is air bag sensors...1/2 Ounce right there lol i dunno

Concept = 2200
Reality? 2500-2700. I just dont get how you can fit 300-500 pounds of extra stuff. I mean it is already a working, breathing, gas filled car.

Who knows?

[White Comet]

Originally Posted by RegisBou

Concept = 2200
Reality? 2500-2700. I just dont get how you can fit 300-500 pounds of extra stuff. I mean it is already a working, breathing, gas filled car.

Who knows?

TTYe car is supposed to cost in the low 20s. To do that, it needs to share parts with existing models, instead of developing new parts, and that means sharing those parts with cars across a range of needs, so these not-platform specific parts will NOT be lightweight.

[NESW20]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys

Electric power steering? i unno.....I'm not a big fan of making things electronic when good ole mechanical does just fine, even if it does save weight. Just something about more stinkin' wires and sensors to go wrong that bugs the hell outta me...

my MR2 *had* hydro-electric p/s. i removed it eventually in favor of a manual rack, but until that point it performed flawlessly (until my speedo cable broke, at which point it would assist when i first started the car, and then turn off; but the actual p/s system worked perfectly). electronic assist --> remove the hydraulic parts, and we still get all the assist, with less weight. and if you really don't want assist, just unplug the motor!

-Mike

[4agze]

Electric power steering? i unno.....I'm not a big fan of making things electronic when good ole mechanical does just fine, even if it does save weight. Just something about more stinkin' wires and sensors to go wrong that bugs the hell outta me...

lol I did also but switch it to quaife QSR manual rack, I hope quaife will make one for the FT86 also when it comes out.

[RegisBou]

Originally Posted by White Comet

TTYe car is supposed to cost in the low 20s. To do that, it needs to share parts with existing models, instead of developing new parts, and that means sharing those parts with cars across a range of needs, so these not-platform specific parts will NOT be lightweight.

Damn good point....