Toyota FT-HS coming in 2009

[Goodspeed]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/09/toyot...g-in-2009/

The only concept car I've actively been following, Toyota gave the FT-HS (Future Toyota - Hybrid Sport) the green light according to Automobile magazine. The American execs have been begging for a new sports/halo car since the end of the Supra in America in 1998, and now with the new GT-R and word of a "real" RX-7 successor coming, I guess they finally decided to go ahead and make it.

From what I've read, its perfectly viable with the Lexus hybrid powertrain already developed in the GS Hybrid sedan; it'll be altered however to store more braking power and it'll release it more violently for bursts of acceleration.

Also, from the Feb. issue of Automobile magazine, they stated "the FT-HS was designed with the Supra's empty parking space in mind...but rather than reintroduce the Supra with updates for the twenty-first century, they tried to reimagine how a Toyota in that segment could make a better case for itself".

Does this mean Toyota considered bringing the MKIV back for the 21st century? There was a survey sponsored by UCLA business students and Toyota that was released just recently to determine the market for the new Supra, and one option was to re-release the MKIV. I guess they decided not to to that.

Whereas the MKIV was intended for 45 year old males (says just that right in the dealer sales manual), I guess Toyota is trying to capture the young, environmentally concious crowd with this one. Figures are "around" 400 hp and hopefully a non-MKIV like affordable price. I just hope they rename it.

[BLINGMW]

wow, that's a target market right there. 45 year old males. 46? GTFO old man. 44? More than you can afford pal. :lol:

[Goodspeed]

wow, that's a target market right there. 45 year old males. 46? GTFO old man. 44? More than you can afford pal. :lol:

Haha, I guess I meant 45-ish, I read through the sales manual some time ago and it is a real hoot; full of corny phrases and wildly enthusiastic predictions and expectations of "the" Supra buyer.

Toyota put a lot of effort into the MKIV, both technically and marketing wise, for example they decided to use a side-mount intercooler over a front mount because test mules had heating problems driving from LA to Vegas in the summer with a FMIC installed. It was meant to be a California car for older males.

Another neat tidbit of info, Lexus used the JZA80 Supra chassis to develop their upcoming hi-po V8's because of its rock solid rigidity

[HAULN-SS]

bleh..ugly as shit from every angle that isn't dead ahead, or straight from the side.

[JustinG]

im gonna have to say that i hope the street version looks nothing like that car, looks like every other wedge shaped concept car produced.

A giant Wedge, with huge wheels.

[CaptainHenreh]

*barf*

[NTIman]

Great, another hybrid pile that I'll have to work on.

On the other hand, if its a hybrid, it'll probably be built in Japan, and therefore built well.

[Jeff]

*barf*

You got some on me clear over here...coming right back at you! Just like the BMW concept posted...I have taken shits that if an engine and wheels were installed would look and sell better. There was a Toyota sportscar in a November 06 C&D I was just reading, it was in one of those "spy shots" things all covered in black tarps and tape. It had nice very supra-like lines on it. I'm sure anything they would build would have a more traditional design then that ugly thing.

[Goodspeed]

There was a Toyota sportscar in a November 06 C&D I was just reading, it was in one of those "spy shots" things all covered in black tarps and tape. It had nice very supra-like lines on it. I'm sure anything they would build would have a more traditional design then that ugly thing.

Yeah, there have been a zillion concepts and lots of speculation for about 4 years now. You probably saw the Lexus LF-A concept which at first people thought was a Toyota.

This is one of the first concepts that came out around 2003



Here is what I would guess the FT-HS may actually look like

[Dave]

the red one above looks great and probably would have sold like hot cakes. I guess Toyota decided that it had too much balls and might make them look manly, so they scrapped it.

[JackdaMak]

the 2003 model looks more like it... they should have rolled it off the lines by now. It just has that supra look to it unlike the concept. I mean we all know that the concepts are always exaggerated and that they never produce them looking like that. It'd be nice to see supras back though.