car news new: Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept – Detroit preview for +400Hp Hybrid Supra

Monday, 25 December 2006

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept – Detroit preview for +400Hp Hybrid Supra

I know you want to go straight to point so we’ll cut the crap. This is a 2+2 rear-wheel drive sports car with a partially retractable roof powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.5 V6 petrol engine and an electric motor –most probably based on Lexus GS450h powertrain. And yes the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept could very well base the next gen Supra.

Don’t believe us? Listen to what Kevin Hunter, vice president of Toyota’s Calty Design Research had to say about it: "We feel there's a hole in our lineup. Toyota hasn't had a sports car since the Supra was dropped in 1997. We need some emotional punch in our lineup, a halo product." Hunter added that "It's a new kind of sports car for the 21st century. Eco and emotion in a sports car concept with a performance target of 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds and a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range."

So what do we think about a product version? In Europe, however good the Supra is, I highly doubt that it will convince consumers even if it’s priced much lower than a Porsche Cayman, but I think that it can serve Toyota as a “halo car”.

The US though is a different story. Even if some will be hasty to consider a V6 powered sports car not being up to standards, we remind you among others, that the highly respected Porsche 911 / 911 Turbo and the Nissan Skyline GT-R both carry 6cylinder motors. But the magic word here is “hybrid powerplant” which will translate to many as “I own an eco-friendly supercar”. In my opinion, even if that’s not 100% true, showing that you’re “politically correct” is reason enough for plenty of people to buy the car. Pics via: Jalopnik