Toyota FT-1 at the Detroit Show: a preview of the new Supra

The Toyota FT-1 could be one of the cars that receives the most looks at the upcoming Detroit Show, alongside the Lexus RC F. But the most important thing will be that this sports concept will be the direction that the brand’s future designs take, according to the head of the design studio in California, where this concept originated. “FT” stands for “future”; and if the future of Toyota is this, we have great things to look forward to from Toyota.

The FT-1 bears a strong resemblance to the Scion FR-S, the compact sports car that Toyota and Subaru jointly designed for the American market. However, it is a concept that offers much more conceptual lines, with pronounced wheel arches, as well as dynamic front air intakes. At the rear it features a retractable spoiler, while the enveloping shape of the windscreen recalls that of the classic Toyota 2000 GT.

The design generally follows the philosophy of more classic sports coupés, that is, a low centre of gravity, with the cabin set well back relative to the front axle. The driving position is very low and the cabin features one of those instrument clusters you will only find on a concept, with a triangular arrangement of the gauges. In addition, it includes a colour head-up display on the windscreen and a steering wheel inspired by those of Formula 1 single-seaters.

With the promise of the return of the Toyota Supra in the air, many refer to the FT-1 as the future Supra. However, nothing has been decided yet, and it is unlikely that Toyota will produce this concept exactly as shown in Detroit. The FT-1 will simply be a model that must earn the approval of the Detroit audience before any production decision is taken, a whole process that began with its predecessor, the Furia Concept.

Source | Toyota