Toyko 2009 Preview: Toyota FT-86 Concept brings back the Hachi-Roku
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 6th 2009 at 1:23AM 
Toyota FT-86 Concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Toyota's President Akio Toyoda has said the automaker is in desperate need of an excitement injection, and here's the first dose: the Toyota FT-86 Concept.
Inspired by the Corolla-based AE86 sports coupe of the '80s, the FT-86 concept was designed by the automaker's ED2 styling studio in France and bears a remarkable resemblance to the FT-HS concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show several years back.
Since it's a "concept," Toyota hasn't divulged much about the FT-86 yet, but we do know it's powered by a Subaru-derived 2.0-liter boxer four sending power to the rear wheels. Toyota focused on keeping the weight down to improve handling and, according to one source, the platform is unique to the concept. The engine sits lower in the engine bay to aid aerodynamics while keeping the center of gravity in check, and the overall dimensions of Toyota's new 2+2 are 163.78 inches long and 69.29 inches wide, with a wheelbase of 101.18 inches.
After the FT-86 bows in concept form at the Tokyo Motor Show next month, the production model will be shown sometime next year with sales beginning sometime in late 2011 carrying a sticker price somewhere north of $20,000.
Gallery: Toyota FT-86 Concept
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE
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
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Temple 2:19AM (10/06/2009)
101 inch wheelbase is incredibly short considering that the MX-5 has a 92 inch wheelbase and this FT-86 is a 3-door 2+2 hatch.
hello 1:35AM (10/06/2009)
looks awesome.
Reply
nzo 1:58AM (10/06/2009)
New front bumper might be nice but other than that, yes please!
Affalterbach 2:15AM (10/06/2009)
A bumper like that couldn't possibly make it ot the productions model. And that will fix its looks.
Sal Collaziano 3:03AM (10/06/2009)
Agreed. It looks excellent! I like how Toyota is looking to please the automotive "enthusiast" with this car.. It's going to be light, quick, it's going to handle well and be easily modifiable.. All this ads up to a hot seller.. Obviously the interior is going to change quite a bit before it goes to production - but I bet the exterior is VERY close to what we're going to see on the street... They said they needed to turn up the excitement in the division and here it comes...
Sal Collaziano
http://www.ft86.net/
daleam 3:59AM (10/06/2009)
I am shocked. It is absolutely beautiful. I never, ever thought that Toyota could pull something off like this. Toyota, build it. They will come!
chuck 3:59AM (10/06/2009)
WTH happened to the hybrid, 400hp part of the FT-HS???
Temple 4:20AM (10/06/2009)
>>WTH happened to the hybrid, 400hp part of the FT-HS???
I'm sure its still coming since Toyota have announced a hybrid partnership with Subaru (they are building a Stella plug-in hybrid) recently and have shown off next-gen Li-ion batteries from Panasonic.
...but building a light-weight, affordable, RWD enjoyable car with a small boxer engine is as ecological as you can get in a sports car. Arguably more 'green' then a 400hp sports hybrid.
esteva03 5:20AM (10/06/2009)
i dont agree. just because this would be the new AE86 this car fails in every way.
This car looks great. i want one. but this car is not in any way the successor of what the 86 was and is.
just on the price this car is for a whole another market. it is not an economic car. it is not a simple car. it is not mass production car. it is on the other hand a "sports car". something the hachiroku never was.
you may say there was a gt-s version but it was a bit more than a trim. it made it sportier but not a sports car. i just dont feel this represents the 86 in all the ways the 86 is loved for.
maybe i am being too fanatic about it. this car is great and it looks good, but dont touch the 86 legacy, please!, cause this car is not it.
geo.stewart 7:57AM (10/06/2009)
esteva, you are dead on.
the beauty of the AE86 was that its base was the basis for all corollas. the only way to carry that on would be for all Corollas to be based on this platform, still being competitive price-point wise with other subcompacts, and offering a GTS coupe body style in addition to the HB and other variants.
but also as you point out, I am excited about this, not something I could say about a Toyota since the last Supra, and that was price prohibitive.
Clay Garland 8:03AM (10/06/2009)
Sure beats the pants off of the Wheeled washing machines that Toyota currently makes.
Rboyett 8:19AM (10/06/2009)
Wow! Toyota's engineers really pulled their heads out of their 3rd point of contact and made a damn good looking car.
Me Likey.
Sea Urchin 8:31AM (10/06/2009)
WOW, why can't Toyota build cars like this.
PiCASSO 9:43AM (10/06/2009)
Agreed... I do like this small coupe, except for the zippers inside.
zamafir 9:44AM (10/06/2009)
interesting, produce it and let's see how it compares to the genesis coupe
apflydragon 10:08AM (10/06/2009)
why wouldn't the front bumper be possible? it looks similar to the current IS bumper
GOT 10:34AM (10/06/2009)
Beautiful, aggressive, looking "concept"! Hope they build it as-is.
anonymous j 1:29PM (10/06/2009)
zamafir
this already blows the genesis coupe away in terms of looks not to mention how much of a letdown the actual car was considering all the massive hype.
Matt 1:32PM (10/06/2009)
I agree, this looks incredible.
And this, coming from somebody with a publicly announed pre-conceived bias about anything with a T on it being uglier than the devil's face.
Just like old people have a pre-conceived notion that anything with a T on it is "the most reliable car in the world, Jimmy!"
Etc.
naggs 4:14PM (10/06/2009)
love it, especially the interior
i don't know how carpet became the default mandatory interior but it really is a terrible material for a car floor, this looks perfect
build it, it will sell