Toyota was once a popular player in the affordable performance car game — producing the 2000 GT, the Sports 800, the 80-86 Hachiroku, the Supra and the MR2 over the decades. But, in recent years, the Japanese automaker ceded
The FT-1 (left) ceded that legacy to its sister companies, Scion and Lexus. The latter builds more elite machines like the $400,000 LFA or the soon to be extinct IS-F. Scion serves up the FR-S – the car that was the original heir to Toyota’s sports car lineage. If Toyota chooses to go ahead with the FT-1, the FR-S will have to move to one side a bit.
The new car’s name stands for Future Toyota and represents a new design philosophy for the company. It’s safe to say recent Toyota’s have been visually “safe” (read: boring), opting for a pleasant commonality to attract the largest number of potential buyers. And, you can’t blame them since that choice netted Toyota the Camry – the number one selling car in the world. They sold a few in the time it’s taken you to read this.
One look at the FT-1 sounds a note of optimism that Toyota is getting away from “safe” and looking at their models more aggressively. As it stands now, the FT-1 lines bear a resemblance to the FR-S – while its size and large front end scoops harken to the LFA. Still, the overall package offers a completely unique aura over any other Toyota built in 20 years.
Of course, there’s no guarantee the FT-1 will go into mass production. And, if it does — it may not look like what we’re seeing now. Regardless, here’s hoping Toyota does more than pay lip service to its new concepts because that’s one hell of a handsome car up there.
