2007 Toyota FT-HS Concept Review

Specifications

Kevin Hunter, Toyota’s Calty Design Studio Vice President made a disapprovingface when, after he introduced the FT-HS concept on stage at the 100th annual North American International Auto Show, I asked if the FT-HS could be called the next Supra. Although he didn’t say no, he did indicate that while the Supra was a great car it is in the past and the FT-HS represents the future. So the S in FT-HS does not stand for Supra, and we all should probably stop calling it that… maybe. Toyota feels that a time will come when even sports cars will need to possess a sense of social responsibility, and as much as many auto enthusiasts don’t always like to think about it, I’m pretty sure Toyota is right. Hunter points out, “Drivers today are not satisfied with cars that are simply fast. In addition to driving enjoyment, today’s drivers are concerned about safety, ecology and social responsibility.” Toyota feels that a hybrid sports car appeals to an emerging class of buyer who “grew up eco-conscious and perceives technology and fuel efficiency as a necessity, not a luxury.” The two-plus-two concept is a front engine, rear-drive sports car that combines all of these attributes and therefore should appeal to consumers looking for a fun-to-drive sports car that just happens to be eco-friendly.

As is quickly veering from fad to trend the FT-HS is very angular, with lotsof connecting creases. By far the most scintillating views are in profile or from the rear three-quarter position, and photos simply don’t do the concept justice. According to Toyota, the FT-HS expresses the core values of a Toyota brand design strategy that combines two key elements: J-Factor and Vibrant Clarity. J-Factor refers to local and global acceptance of Japanese-inspired design and cultural sensibilities. Vibrant Clarity is the Toyota brand design language that expresses J-Factor, resulting in a combination of perfect imbalance, freeform geometrics and integrated component architecture. The minimalist design, which is lightweight and appears as such, is called subtractive mass, and is the result of combining the three elements. The roof is made from a carbon fibre/Kevlar composite, which retracts over the rear window and then pivots downward before stowing above the rear seats, turning the FT-HS into a two-seat roadster.

Other carbon fibre pieces include the gorgeous 21-inch wheels and rear lower diffuser. Also in the rear are large LED tail lamps that meld into an integrated spoiler that deploys at high speed to provide additional downforce. In front, there are LED headlights as well for increased energy efficiency and decreased heat loss. The hood features a kind of 21st century “shaker” style cut-out that exposes the hybrid-enhanced engine. That engine is a “tuned” version of Toyota’s 3.5-liter V6/Hybrid Synergy Drive electric powertrain, as currently resides in the Lexus GS450h, which makes roughly 400 horsepower here. Zero-to-60 acceleration is projected to be in the four-second range. Very impressive, not only by hybrid standards, but by any standards.

The cockpit is very driver focused, and is intended to “exude sleekness, technology and performance,” or so says Toyota’s press material. Utilizing materials such as titanium and additional carbon fibre to create a “cross-car instrument panel and delta wing driver pod”, the driver’s pod integrates most of the car’s important functions into the lightweight structural unit. Touch trace sensors are utilized as tactile guides for fingertip control, designed so that the driver can make adjustments to the controls without having to take his or her eyes off the road, especially important at higher speeds. The driver’s seat cradles its occupant and helps reinforce the car’s sport-oriented focus, while facing a telescoping hub-less steering wheel with paddle shifters for actuating the transmission. I’m not sure if the paddles are insinuating that the FT-HS gets a true sequential-manual or not, but if I had to guess I would say it is the paddle-shifted semi-automatic 8-speed that is already in the Lexus SL 460 and is slated for the IS-F, or possibly they link to a CVT like all of Toyota and Lexus’ hybrids normally get.

I find the FT-HS very attractive, and easily one of the sexier concepts that broke cover at the year’s NAIAS, and would love to see it enter production. One area of concern for myself is that a sports car should be light on its feet, an attribute that hybrids aren’t exactly known for, but with extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre and titanium it would seem that Toyota is serious about keeping the weight down. Hunter also called the FT-HS a “true attainable exotic” which in my mind means that it would be priced right around the Cayman S, or possibly even lower, so with an overall length of roughly 170 inches and a height of 51 inches, both within an inch of the Cayman S, the FT-HS should possess performance to equal or exceeding that of the 911.