What's a suitable and appropriate sports car for the 21st century? Toyota suggests one answer to that question, in the FT-HS concept car unveiled in Detroit. The name sets no new standards for originality (Toyota Future -- Hybrid Sports) but the technology might. The idea was to bring edgy, aero-efficient styling together with advanced hybrid technology to explore what might be possible in an exclusive 2+2 coupe. Projected performance? Try 0-60 in the 4-second range from 400 hp. It's an intriguing notion, trying to marry the usually antagonistic values of power and performance on one hand, and responsibility and sustainability on the other.
In person, the FT-HS has maybe a few TOO many edges and angles in the styling, even though designer Kevin Hunter refered to the theme of "subtractive mass" to describe the intentional reduction of visual "weight." Hunter also mentioned the "J-factor," the broad acceptance of Japanese aesthetic standards and sensibilities, and "vibrant clarity" as the free-form, balanced, and dynamic visual language of the FT-HS.
Okay, but frankly, we were more captivated by what Toyota technical guru Paul Williamson told us about the fundamental challenge of getting hybrid technology to work in a sports/performance application: Batteries are physically unable to dump electrons fast enough to get the shot of acceleration you want, or to take them back in fast enough to get the full benefit of regenerative braking in hard, quick stops. He described a layout that will be in essence two parallel systems, one for energy storage and another for transfer of energy in short bursts. Nickel-metal-hydride will be the battery type for the former, but of the latter, Williamson said, "It's something else, and not really a battery at all. It will have some of the characteristics of a capacitor."
We asked if there are still miracle inventions necessary to make this possible and he said, "No, the technology is there. This is pretty close to producible. We just have to work out how best to harness it."
Pretty cool stuff. --Kevin Smith
billt9 says:
07:08 PM, 01/ 7/07
That gloss white paint is not looking good with flash photography.
Should have gone pearl white.
estreka says:
09:32 PM, 01/ 7/07
So we've all seen the photos. How does it look in person?
carlisimo says:
10:24 PM, 01/ 7/07
Responsible as in, 0 produced, 0 sold, 0 driven. But my big concern is that Toyota is having a hard time keeping its Toyota styling constant. They've been delving into the L-Finesse bin a little too much. I'm also nervous about Honda and Toyota's sports car designs looking a bit too much like the Infiniti G35 (or was it G37?).
btw edmunds.com, that BF Goodrich flash ad is really slowing down my computer and is only going to reduce the amount of time I spend on your pages.
billt9 says:
06:48 AM, 01/ 8/07
I would hate for a manufacturer to toss a good design because it's not consistant with a brand face...
GM's rebadging comes to mind... they've ruined cars like the Monaro for the sake of putting on a Pontiac brand grille.
ogdredweary says:
01:33 PM, 01/ 8/07
i dont understand toyota's design philosophy. it's very mixed. this
ft-hs/supra concept looks like one of their designers was making out with a cylon.
toyojo says:
02:31 PM, 01/ 8/07
The car is gorgeous, would be fast, it's a Toyota, and I heard a price tag of $30k. I'm in it like a prom date.
musclecar07 says:
11:05 PM, 01/ 9/07
Two words: Butt Ugly!
lederhosen says:
06:32 PM, 01/11/07
I don't know, i kinda like the design if they tone it down. Id like to see it be the next Supra....
fishermatt202 says:
09:14 PM, 01/19/07
I saw this car on tv when the detroit auto show was on and I was impressed right when I saw it. Maybe it's just my taste but I absolutely love this car. The streamline design and the futuristic interior is awesome. I'm a little skeptic about the speed and mpg, but I don't know. I love this car's look, I just hope that this car can actually make it to the market either as the next Supra or what, we'll see...