Toyota To Unveil New Sports Car And Electric Vehicle Concepts At Tokyo Motor Show
KEY POINTS
- World premiere of FT-86 sports car concept
- World debut for FT-EV II compact electric vehicle concept
FT-86 Concept
Great to own and fun-to-drive: those are the guiding principles behind a new Toyota sports car concept that will break cover for the first time at the Tokyo motor show later this month.
The five-seat FT-86 (that’s hachi roku in Japanese) goes back to the fundamental qualities of the classic sports car with its rear-wheel drive configuration, compact dimensions, low centre of gravity and lightweight construction. Under the bonnet there is a 2.0-litre boxer engine that is strong on both performance and environmental quality.
The show car’s bodywork is finished in Flash Red, an eye-catching shade that contains a hint of blue. Inside, the cabin design further expresses the car’s classic sporting qualities with many of the structural elements left uncovered.
FT-86 Concept Dimensions
- Length (mm): 4,160
- Width (mm): 1,760
- Height (mm): 1,260
- Wheelbase (mm): 2,570
FT-EV II
Tokyo will also mark the world debut of the FT-EV II, a compact electric vehicle designed for short distance travel. Its design and technology look to a future society where EVs will be in common use, among a range of different means of transport that will reflect user requirements, the type of energy used and the local energy supply infrastructure.
FT-EV II is a high-quality vehicle concept, designed primarily for urban driving with a body that is even more compact than that of the Toyota iQ, but still with room for four seats on board.
Drive-by-wire technology allows all the vehicle functions to be controlled using a joystick, including the accelerator, brakes and steering. Removing the throttle and brake pedals frees up legroom for the four-seat design.
The exterior features a low front cowl and an additional window below the level of the windscreen to give extra forward visibility. To improve safety through the quality of all-round vision, the rear lamp clusters are see-through LED units. To ensure easy access in tight spots, there are electric sliding doors on both sides.
Top speed is above 60mph and a full-charged battery will give a range of more than 50 miles, which is ample for most urban journeys. The ride is quiet and comfortable with smooth acceleration, thanks to Toyota-developed motor control technology, itself part of the hybrid system that sits at the heart of the company’s environmental technologies.
FT-EV II Concept Dimensions
- Length (mm): 2,730
- Width (mm): 1,680
- Height (mm): 1,490
- Wheelbase (mm): 1,900
The 41st Tokyo motor show will run from 24 October to 4 November at the Makuhari Messe.
ENDS