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

[vh_supra26]

Car enthusiasts have been clamoring for a replacement for Toyota's iconic Supra for years now, and the Toyota FT-1 concept unveiled at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show is our best look yet at just such a car. The work of America's own Calty Design Research, the FT-1 steps away from Toyota's more eco-friendly concepts of late and delivers something truly exciting--a powerful, agile sports car with sensuous curves and a focused interior layout. Gearhead Toyota boss Akio Toyoda gave designers a simple but important motive before they set to work on the car: Make it cool.

Calty has a long and illustrious history of producing interesting designs--it's previously worked on the original 1978 Celica, the Lexus SC400, the Supra and the FT-HS concept--and the FT-1 concept is no different. The profile is long and low, the low nose leads into an extended hood, and the concept features powerful rear haunches for the traditional sports car stance. One of the designers' main goals was to create a form that looked sculpted by the wind and by speed, at once remaining functional--hence the large air intakes either side of the extended nose, and the deep side intakes aft of the doors.

While hard to tell from some angles, that black area on the hood isn't just paint, either. Like on many supercars, the FT-1 features a glass panel to allow a glimpse at the internal combustion engine below. There are large alloy wheels, a deep front spoiler and a pronounced kick to the rear end, not dissimilar from the aggressive, cab-back shape of American sports cars like the Corvette and Viper. For the car's glasshouse, there's more than a passing nod to one of Toyota's most celebrated models--the stunning 2000GT.

Inside there's functional minimalism. Light weight is the order of the day, with padding only where it's needed and a 'slingshot' cockpit design, where all the controls are tightly packed around the driver's position. There's a jet fighter-style head up display above the steering wheel and most of the minor switchgear is located on the wheel itself, letting the driver keep their hands on the wheel. If this is beginning to sound like a video game, then you aren't far off--Toyota and Calty have collaborated with the creators of the Gran Turismo game series, and the FT-1 is soon to feature in the latest installment, Gran Turismo 6.

Toyota says the car is symbolic of a new chapter in Toyota's design standards, boss Toyoda adding that the company now aims to create cars that people want--cars they simply have to drive. If that means a new Supra to join the smaller GT 86 in Toyota's lineup, that's okay by us.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...t-detroit-show

[MannyO]

Pedal placement = AMAZING! (though it could use one more pedal )

[ThaBigUnit]

Told you guys [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0jGUZZQVU&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]Toyota FT-1 Concept - 2014 Detroit Auto Show - YouTube[/ame]

[ThaBigUnit]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0jGUZZQVU&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]Toyota FT-1 Concept - 2014 Detroit Auto Show - YouTube[/ame]

[M-17]

I just don't like the nose on this. That's pretty much it. Everything else looks good enough, even if there's a lot design cues from other vehicles, to want this car in the end.

[vh_supra26]

[WingsofWar]

I'm happy with the direction they went here. I was REALLLLLY worried initially because of the trends in today's automotive designs. It really does look like a grown and matured GT-86, it has that "supra presence", it gives that vibe that "yeah I'm a Toyota, my older brother LF-A isn't the only cool one in the family".

Although it looks far from production design ready. I'm already confident that it will be a big hit if the FT-1 really does inherit the Supra badge.

[maiaramdan]

So

I need one , just wow!!!!

Finally corvette, viper, GT-R, NSX true competitor from Toyota
I love it

And it looks completely production ready

[Shadowgt86]

Be waiting very impatiently for this to get into production...

For Alex Shen, studio chief designer at Toyota's Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California, the words describing the sports car's styling concept came first -- words like "sexy," "honest," "organic," "kick-ass." Followed by proportions -- front/mid-engine, rear drive, just the right scale. And a wild guess at price -- maybe $60,000? "It's a Toyota," says Shen. "It ought to be affordable." Only then did lines start to appear

http://m.motortrend.com/future/conce...pt_first_look/

[M-17]

I just see more SRT Viper, GT-R, Corvette, LeFerrari, and McClaren design cues over the Celica, MR2 and FRS as that article pointed out.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by M-17

I just see more SRT Viper, GT-R, Corvette, LeFerrari, and McClaren design cues over the Celica, MR2 and FRS as that article pointed out.

The front also has alot of the NS4 concept in it.




The rear is screaming FR-S by 5ive Axis and LF-LC.






The roof also took cues from the FT-HS and FT-86.

[MannyO]

The front with its "nose" is reminiscent of the Toyota TS030. Definitely some racing styling cues in there.

[M-17]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

The front also has alot of the NS4 concept in it.

I didn't even think of that... or remember really. Good point on the front end reference.

But roof also has GT-R written on it too.

[maiaramdan]

So now, when I can find this car in my garage?