Toyota FT-86 debut to be made in 2013! Hybrid version planned!

It appears that the same thing that happened with the Lexus LFA Supercar will happen with the new Toyota FT-86. For those who don’t know, the Lexus LFA was first unveiled in a concept form back in 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show.

The production version was launched last year at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new Toyota FT-86 will likely have the same faith and people will get tired of waiting it! According to the latest reports from Japan’s Best Car magazine, the Toyota FT-86 will make its debut in 2013. The reasons for the delay would be the changing of the design but also the fact that a 2011 release may be premature…What?!?!?!?! Anyway, there is also a good news: Toyota will take a closer look to Honda’s CR-Z hybrid sports coupe and may consider a hybrid version of the FT-86!

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/toyota-ft-86-debut-to-be-made-in-2013-hybrid-version-planned/

FT-86 Price and Range Out Of Control?

According to sources,”…ballooning development costs will result in a more expensive Toyota FT-86 when it arrives late next year…”

This is without mentioning the disputes over the origin of the power plants…

According to Toyota, the boxer engine is ill-favored, saying, “The Subaru boxer engine planned for the car is not considered to be that clean or fuel-efficient.”

…and that prices with the boxer in tow, could top,”…the Japanese price up to around £15,000 ( $23,000 ), with the range-topper costing £17,000 ( $26,000 ).”

Quite the hike in cost, wouldn’t you agree?

The FT86 is one of the biggest cars to come out in decades and already it is marred in controversy with very little to show for its actual form.

One key element is the internal shift for Toyota: significant where Tetsuya Tada spoke of his team increasing the target age group for the FT-86 by 10 years, from the 30s to 40s, after market research showed that fewer younger buyers would opt for the sleeker coupé than first thought.

7tune is here to make sure things are told as they are.

Source;
http://www.7tune.com/ft-86-price-and-range-out-of-control/

Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome

Wow, does this ever look hot! C'mon Honda, respond with the next Prelude!

Toyota Motor Co. president Akio Toyoda has stressed that his family's company must work to create more emotionally engaging products as part of its bid to reinvent its now-battered image. Central to that effort will be the production version of its well-received FT-86 Sports Concept, the two-door rear-driver that made its European debut at this week's Geneva Motor Show, where it drew quite a crowd.

Toyota now appears to be pushing its brand's enthusiast heritage, something it hasn't truly done with fresh products in some time – at least not outside of its Lexus brand. In any case, the Japanese automaker has just released a series of new photos, including a family portrait of sorts that places the FT-86 in the context of the Corolla AE86 (its most obvious spiritual predecessor) as well as the Celica and Supra. Although the press release available after the jump pays lip service to the MR2, none is pictured.

While there is no substantive new information about a production timetable for the comely coupe, Toyota has released a series of images of the FT-86 that are certainly worth perusing. You can check them out below while you're waiting for more info about the car's future.

Source;

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/toyota-ft-86-concept-gets-a-family-style-welcome/

Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept at the Tokyo Salon

Toyota is showing a whole range of “G Sports” kitted up cars at the Tokyo Auto Salon (which is kinda like a Japanese SEMA) but I say by far the most interesting car there is probably this – a FT-86 Concept that’s been done up quite well.

Other than this FT-86, a number of other cars have had the G Sports treatment given to them, such as the Noah, the Voxy, the Mark X, and the Prius. Toyota’s GAZOO Racing arm has its own set of cars to showcase including a Lexus LF-A. Lexus will be showing an IS F Circuit Club Sports Concept. TRD will have a Corolla Axio “GT” TRD Turbo.

And why “G Sports”? Apparently Toyota says the letter G heralds back to the days of cars like the 2000GT and the Celica GT-Four. You know what I think? The letter G comes after F, so Toyota G Sports comes after Lexus F-Sports G-nius!

Another bonus will be a trailer released by Gran Turismo 5 that showcases the FT-86 complete with G Sports kit doing its stuff in the virtual world.

Trailer gran turismo 5 FT-86 g sports concept
Uploaded by leplayosaure. - Discover more gaming videos.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2010/01/16/toyota-ft-86-g-sports-concept-at-the-tokyo-salon/

Toyota Unveils MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept

It may only be a concept for now, but Toyota's GRMN MR2 Sports Hybrid study that was unveiled today at the Tokyo Auto Salon may very well form the technological base for a similar production sports car in the very near future, according to reports from Japan.

Developed in cooperation with Toyota's racing and tuning partner Gazoo, the concept is a two-seater, all-wheel drive hybrid sports car based on a modified version of the platform used in the now obsolete MR2 roadster.

Underneath its widened body, the MR2 concept gets a mid-mounted 3.3-liter V6 petrol engine that drives the rear wheels and the company's THSII hybrid system with the electric motor propelling the front wheels.

The combined output of the hybrid system and petrol engine is estimated to be in the range of 400 horsepower

Power is transferred to the wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifts.

Toyota did not release any performance figures, but if you take into consideration that the 400HP plus roadster tips the scales at just 1,300 kg or 2,866 pounds (official data), this pocket rocket promises to be nothing less than fast.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01/toyota-unveils-mr2-sports-hybrid.html

Toyota FT-86 Concept Revealed Before 2009 Tokyo Motor Show

Wow, well done!
Oh how I remember the days of the Toyota Corolla AE86. The new Toyota FT-86 Concept, recently revealed to the world, actually makes me think of the AE86, not because of the body code similarities (AE86 vs. FT-86, but offering an affordable rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. It is about time Toyota offered something exciting. They have not had anything exciting since the Supra and maybe the Celica GT-S, but that’s a whole other story.

We brought you exclusive images and information of this upcoming vehicle that will be powered by a 2.0-liter boxter four cylinder engine developed in conjunction with Subaru a few months ago. Some think it will have more than the slated 160hp and be bumped up to 200hp. We suspect that the Toyota FT-86 will be light-weight to give it a decent amount of agility when it is coupled with a 6-speed manual and ADVICS brakes. I can see it now, the tuners are going to tear this car up… in a good way. Maybe Toyota will get this car out before Hyundai and others steal this segment.

Expect the Toyota FT-86 Concept to be on display in the flesh at the upcoming 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The price is expected to be just above $20,000. Sounds like a project car that we would love to have in our garage!

Source;
http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/7413/toyota-ft-86-concept-revealed-before-2009-tokyo-motor-show#

Toyota planning new compact sports car based on iQ

Yes! It is true! The era of compact sports cars is almost here! The latest reports from the Japan’s Best Car Magazine indicate that Toyota is planning a new vehicle based on the iQ city car which will make its debut next year.

According to our sources the upcoming car will be fun to drive and will carry a 1.3-liter gasoline engine, which in our opinion, will be more than enough to enjoy the small convertible. The new car will come with a price tag of $20,300 (2 million Yen). But this is not the only good news we have: Honda is also planning a successor for the old Beat! Now we have to wait and see the response from Mazda! More details to be revealed!

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/toyota-planning-new-compact-sports-car-based-on-iq/