Toyota tries again with a hybrid sports car
Many auto enthusiasts mourn the loss of Toyota's MKIV Supra and more recently the Celica and MR2 Spyder. The Japanese auto giant, which is poised to take over the position as the world's largest auto manufacturer in 2007, is once again teasing enthusiasts with another RWD sports car concept with a hybrid powertrain.
Toyota last touched on the hybrid sports car trend with the Italdesign-Guigiaro-bodied Volta which was unveiled at the 2004 Geneva Auto Show. The Volta featured a carbon fiber chassis, 3.3 liter V6 engine and a hybrid system cribbed from the Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV. The whole system generated a total of 408HP thanks to the V6 engine and the two electric motors (one at each axle).
Toyota's new FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept doesn't feature the Volta's ultra-expensive carbon fiber chassis, but it does feature a more powerful 292HP 3.5 liter DOHC V6 engine and 197HP electric motor from the Lexus GS450h hybrid luxury sedan. And unlike the 2-seat Volta, the FT-HS is a 2+2 design and has dimensions relatively close to the Lexus SC430. The fact that Toyota was able to cram batteries, fuel tank and electric motor into a 170” 2+2 RWD design is quite impressive.
Being that the FT-HS is currently a concept, it has some outrageous styling details and features that likely won't make it to production. The FT-FS features a hubless steering wheel, a two-toned interior which is focused around the driver (Toyota calls it "Solo Space") and a retractable roof that stacks inside the vehicle on top of the rear seats.
"It's a new kind of sports car for the 21st century. Eco and emotion in a sports car concept with a performance target of 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds and a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range," said Kevin Hunter, the vice president of Calty Design Research.
Don't hold your breath though on seeing a production version of this concept. The technological hurdles and economies of scale involved in getting a RWD hybrid sports car to the market for $35,000 are enormous.
Many auto enthusiasts mourn the loss of Toyota's MKIV Supra and more recently the Celica and MR2 Spyder. The Japanese auto giant, which is poised to take over the position as the world's largest auto manufacturer in 2007, is once again teasing enthusiasts with another RWD sports car concept with a hybrid powertrain.
Toyota last touched on the hybrid sports car trend with the Italdesign-Guigiaro-bodied Volta which was unveiled at the 2004 Geneva Auto Show. The Volta featured a carbon fiber chassis, 3.3 liter V6 engine and a hybrid system cribbed from the Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV. The whole system generated a total of 408HP thanks to the V6 engine and the two electric motors (one at each axle).
Toyota's new FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept doesn't feature the Volta's ultra-expensive carbon fiber chassis, but it does feature a more powerful 292HP 3.5 liter DOHC V6 engine and 197HP electric motor from the Lexus GS450h hybrid luxury sedan. And unlike the 2-seat Volta, the FT-HS is a 2+2 design and has dimensions relatively close to the Lexus SC430. The fact that Toyota was able to cram batteries, fuel tank and electric motor into a 170” 2+2 RWD design is quite impressive.
Being that the FT-HS is currently a concept, it has some outrageous styling details and features that likely won't make it to production. The FT-FS features a hubless steering wheel, a two-toned interior which is focused around the driver (Toyota calls it "Solo Space") and a retractable roof that stacks inside the vehicle on top of the rear seats.
"It's a new kind of sports car for the 21st century. Eco and emotion in a sports car concept with a performance target of 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds and a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range," said Kevin Hunter, the vice president of Calty Design Research.
Don't hold your breath though on seeing a production version of this concept. The technological hurdles and economies of scale involved in getting a RWD hybrid sports car to the market for $35,000 are enormous.
