The New Toyota Sportcar…A Hybrid?

41 Comments February 27, 2007 / Posted in Cars, Technology

The New Toyota Sportscar...A Hybrid?

There have been rumors for years now that Toyota has been prepping a replacement for its flagship Supra sportscar.

The Supra was one of the most popular tuner cars of the ’90’s and continues to be regarded as one of the ultimate Japanese rockets.

At the recent Detroit Auto Show, Toyota shocked the world with what may be the actual Supra replacement. Currently dubbed the FT-HS concept, this super-Toyota is actually a hybrid! It is powered by both an electric motor and a 3.5 liter V6 motor, good for over 400 horsepower. You know this is car is coming close to supercar territory when it promises to propel you to 60 mph in around 4 seconds!

This sports car is a 2+2, meaning that it seats four. These photos don’t show us how big the back seat actually is, but I’m assuming that it’s painfully small. Rather than call the FT-HS a 2+2, Toyota should just say that the FT-HS has a deep package tray behind the front seats.

Many modern sportscars have engines in the 300-400 horsepower range, but the acceleration isn’t always there as today’s rides are heavier than ever. The FT-HS, on the other hand, is designed to be as light as possible. Given that, it is impressive that the FT-HS contains an automatically retractable hard-top!

Personally, I think this car is an amazing achievement in engineering. It will get excellent gas mileage being a hybrid and promises to be a true enthusiast’s sports car. Now you can impress your environmentally-conscious mom and wow your girlfriend at the same time!

Before getting too excited about this wonderful offering, remember, it is still a concept, meaning it has not gotten the final word to go to production just yet. Toyota should be revealing more details about the FT-HS concept within the next 6 months, including its planned release date.

A few people have asked what the estimated price point might be. I have read several places that Toyota is looking to price this car in the mid 30’s. Seems a lot more reasonable than the last car I wrote about — the 8 Million Dollar Mercedes-Maybach!

Click on a picture for a larger (1400×1050) desktop-size view.

0702_c2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept1.jpg 0702_c2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept5.jpg 0702_c2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept6.jpg
0702_c2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept4.jpg 0702_c2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept3.jpg 0702_c2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept8.jpg

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  1. Jane said on February 27th, 2007 at 1:08 am

    oooooooooooh, I think I’m in love!!! I didn’t see a price tag, any idea??

  2. Nate Whitehill said on February 27th, 2007 at 1:10 am

    I actually read somewhere that are pricing it in the mid-30’s!

  3. Ryan said on February 27th, 2007 at 7:31 am

    It’ll be awesome when that comes to market. I’ve got a Lexus RX400H that I love (a hybrid, of course), and I’d definately consider this car.

  4. Jane said on February 27th, 2007 at 10:58 am

    That’s not too bad actually!

  5. Vinay said on February 28th, 2007 at 8:34 am

    I went to the Detroit auto show, and they had this car on displayed on a turntable, as well as the new Lexus sportscar displayed close by. The Lexus model is supposed to be their high-end sports car offering in the future (500hp V-10 possibly) but the FT-HS concept looked so much better, and seemed to be generating far more attention.

  6. David Wilkinson said on February 28th, 2007 at 2:41 pm

    DUDE! Just found my first car. ;)

  7. eric said on March 1st, 2007 at 7:18 pm

    cant anybody see that its a vector picture???!?!?!

  8. baron said on March 1st, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    Supras & Celicas definitely ruled back in the day. Then all the Japanese manufacturers stopped making sports cars altogether… :(

  9. Vinay said on March 1st, 2007 at 8:59 pm

    My guess is this car is going to make production. Looks too good, the stats are ridiculous, the price is borderline cheap, and that retractable hardtop is SLICK.

  10. sage said on March 2nd, 2007 at 1:58 am

    this is a 3d rendered picture.. not actual photos
    anyway, this car looks like a bad offspring of a train and a hotwheels toy…
    i guess the concept is awesome, just that front bumper is so dumb,

  11. TCLAF said on March 2nd, 2007 at 2:01 am

    If this thing is priced in the mid-30’s then im going to definetly be getting like 5 of them

  12. Nate Whitehill said on March 2nd, 2007 at 2:49 am

    It seems like Japan is finally starting to get its act together and release some sporty offerings. I have a 3rd gen RX-7 which I love to death, despite its incredible unreliability.

  13. comment by beauty said on March 2nd, 2007 at 7:02 am

    this is awsome ! the car looks cute and sweet ! in particular it back body .

    http://thundafunda.com

  14. bc said on March 2nd, 2007 at 7:33 am

    I can’t figure out how the trunk opens.

  15. Eddie said on March 2nd, 2007 at 8:34 am

    For Sale: 2005 Nissan 350Z

  16. Matt said on March 2nd, 2007 at 8:34 am

    Yeah… I like the car a lot too… but the author kinda missed the point.

    This isn’t a Supra replacement - this is a MR-2 replacement… and I’m talking back-to-its-roots 90-95 SW20 body style. From the strong C-Pillar, to its innovative open air design. Besides, Supra was never a 30K car (adjusted for inflation) the MR-2 was.

    If you are looking to see what the Supra replacement *is* - check out the Lexus LF-A

    http://www.autoblog.com/2005/01/09/detroit-auto-show-lexus-lf-a/

    bc - There’s actually not a ‘trunk’ - its a ‘hatchback’. The roof slides ‘back’ (over the glass), then the glass and roof settle into the hatch area. Coolest design at the NAIAS this year.

  17. tobias said on March 2nd, 2007 at 8:59 am

    http://teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

    kicks its ass

  18. Tyler Durden said on March 2nd, 2007 at 9:16 am

    Dude, you ever hear of the Evo?

  19. brettro said on March 2nd, 2007 at 9:59 am

    to be the MR2 replacement, the FT-HS would have to be mid-engined and a 2-seater, which it is neither.

  20. AnthonyC said on March 2nd, 2007 at 10:03 am

    The Tesla is pretty damn slick, but I think Toyota’s answer to the electric sports coupe will ultimately trump anything currently on or in development. Toyota just kicks ass… and going forward, it’s stock price of around $130 is a STEAL right now.

  21. Nomar said on March 3rd, 2007 at 12:54 am

    Great Nate !! and congrats with DIGG

  22. David Wilkinson said on March 3rd, 2007 at 1:51 am

    I was just going to mention it… Nice going!

  23. Mobius said on March 3rd, 2007 at 5:24 pm

    A “Concept Car” isn’t even a prototype. A concept has to be prototyped (several times) before it can even be CONSIDERED for production. Hint: There’s no prototype, and no confirmation they even PLAN to build a prototype.

    You just keep on thinking they’ll build it.

    No chance. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

    Just buy a Porsche - at least they build plenty of ‘em!

  24. christopher krenisky said on April 23rd, 2007 at 7:02 pm

    I pray to God this car goes into production…I think I’ll cry if it doesn’t. I just bought a 2007 camry se which kicks some serious ass. The dealer showed me this car on toyota’s website. If and when they release this car im definitely doing a trade in!! Nice pics by the way.

  25. David Wilkinson said on May 7th, 2007 at 11:49 pm

    Totally… I’m getting one of these babes! :D

  26. David Wilkinson said on May 7th, 2007 at 11:50 pm

    The car costs $130!!? Schaweet! ;)

  27. Wolf Stone said on May 12th, 2007 at 10:39 pm

    Just saw pics of the new supra and now this…no wonder toyota is now the number 1 car maker in the world.

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  29. bish said on February 5th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    dude when this baby comes out, first car

  30. bish said on February 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    dude when this baby comes out, first car ever
    only car for me

  31. Gary said on January 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    I like it V8 power out of a V6 and electric motor any MPG stats

  32. Tuner Car Lover said on March 13th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Although the Supra sure is one car that I love to see racing around, this car looks very sexy! Of course it will never replace the Toyota Supra for me, this car looks like it will be a big hit to all of the auto tuners.

    Is it supposed to be placed into production anytime soon?

    Thanks for the info!
    -Chris

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  37. The Auto Lovers Daily Chit - Chats said on May 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 pm

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    At this yearÂ’s Detroit Auto Show Toyota debuted what easily became the stuff of teenage (and of the young at hearts too) boysÂ’ dreams: the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept — a two-door sports coupe claimed to be the SupraÂ’s next-generation successor….

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