Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Car

[EvolutioniuM]

http://news.windingroad.com/concept-...ft-hs-concept/ Toyota appears hell bent on re-establishing its credibility among enthusiasts. With the euthanizing of the Supra and MR2, there’s been little in the automotive juggernaut’s stable to quicken the pulse, but recent announcements like Lexus’ forthcoming “F” lineup should help reinvigorate the brand with driving aficionados. As should the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept previewed here. Slated to debut on Sunday, January 7 at the North American International Auto Show, the HSC is expected to be a 400+ horsepower hybrid concept sports car. Designed by Toyota’s Newport Beach, California studio, the 2+2 boasts a 3.5-liter V-6 yoked to a 650-volt water-cooled motor, and a retractable roof. And while the concept makes extensive use of pricy materials like carbon fiber and aluminum, the FT-HS is expected to portend a toned-down production variant. There’s some debate about what segment said vehicle would play in, as well as name and cost, but Toyota says it is fantasizing about projecting a price tag of around $35,000 and a 0-60 mile-per-hour time of around 4 seconds. Whooeeey.

The designing bit is interesting, especially the sliding CF roof, I can see the Celica and Lexus LF through the line cues, but most importantly its a smart move from Toyota to make a hybrid sports car in this segment using the GS450h Engine. I reckon that if this car hit the production line it gonna be a major success for Toyota!!

[EvolutioniuM]

More information could be find here:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=118933#3

[saadie]

dosnt look half as bad aas a futuristic car ... looks like a dog from the nose thou

[Stoopie]

Why does Toyota want their car to look like a stretched Honda Civic.. Anyway, I think it looks pretty nice.

[RC45]

What is the obsession with car makers for "future" cars to look rubbish and style-less?

[CMonakar]

Whoever designed the new Skyline's C-pillars is probably not very happy.

[RC45]

So now that Toyota is trying to re-establish credibility amongst enthusiasts, perhaps Winding Road can go about trying to establish some journalistic credibility

[HeilSvenska]

Am I the only one who thinks that it's nothing more than a reskinned LF-A?

[dutchmasterflex]

Looks nothing like the LF-A..

Toyota has been toying with the idea of a hybrid sports car for years now, this concept seems interesting enough. I want to see if they can pull it off.

[EnzoLover]

I like the style

[ViperASR]

The styling looks good on paper but probobly would not look good in 3-D. It would be nice for Toyota to make a high performance hybrid, the only problem is that it would only be at max performance when the battery is at full power, so getting the most out of the car would require a fully charged battery all the time

[RC45]

Originally Posted by ViperASR The styling looks good on paper but probobly would not look good in 3-D. It would be nice for Toyota to make a high performance hybrid, the only problem is that it would only be at max performance when the battery is at full power, so getting the most out of the car would require a fully charged battery all the time

Well - it is goign to appeal to the F&F crowd.. and they all go by "nitrous oxides" so they are quite used to having to stop and get a refill

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by RC45 What is the obsession with car makers for "future" cars to look rubbish and style-less?

Yep, its as if they have to look that way

Wheres all the passion?

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by TopGearNL Originally Posted by RC45 What is the obsession with car makers for "future" cars to look rubbish and style-less? Yep, its as if they have to look that way Wheres all the passion?

It's not as if the Japanese cars had style and passion in the first place.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by HeilSvenska Originally Posted by TopGearNL Originally Posted by RC45 What is the obsession with car makers for "future" cars to look rubbish and style-less? Yep, its as if they have to look that way Wheres all the passion? It's not as if the Japanese cars had style and passion in the first place.

No but at least they had their own character :roll: