Tokyo Preview: Stunning Toyota FT-86 Concept Delivers "Racecar-like" Handling
Until today, if someone asked you what the best looking Toyota from the past decade was, you’d have a tough time thinking something up. As of today, the answer is the FT-86 Concept, which is set to officially debut at the Tokyo Auto Show later this month.
The name FT-86 brings together Toyota’s past and future, with the “FT” coming from the FT-HS hybrid concept from a few years back, while the “86” is donated from the AE-86, a small rear-drive, two-door Corolla-based sports car (called the Hachi-Roku), made famous by drifters.
Other than the design of the car (which is certainly impressive with plenty of Lexs LF-A inspired goodness), we don’t know a lot about the FT-86 concept yet.
What we do know is that it will be light weight, with “racecar-like handling” and be powered by a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine. While Toyota hasn’t said as much, this is most likely donated from the boxer-engine experts at Subaru – meaning that the FT-86 is the mysterious Toyobaru.
Toyota hasn’t said as much, but you can be certain this concept car is headed for production in the very near future.
GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Concept
Official release after the jump:
1. FT-86 Concept (world premiere)
The FT-86 (“86” pronounced “hachi roku”), a compact rear-wheel-drive sports car, provides driving joy and excitement.
* Compact design gives driver greater control, while body’s lightness and low center of gravity allow racecar-like handling
* Both power and environmental performance provided by 2-liter boxer engine and light body
* Flash Red body color contains hint of blue; interior expresses modern feel with minimal coverage of the highly refined structural components evoking enthusiasm for cruising
Vehicle Length Width Height Wheelbase Seating
FT-86 Concept 4,160 mm 1,760 mm 1,260 mm 2,570 mm 4
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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Well said Aedan, Good form old chap!!!! I thought the same as well when i came to the engine description.......it would be the only thing holding this car back.....i mean sure...you could spend the money and get 300hp out of the 2.0 boxter......but you might as well have bought a subaru in the end.....
What a awesome car I would like to drive it, and how much does it cost?