The FT-86 Concept, which had its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show, is said to be inspired by old sports cars, including the Celica, MR2, Supra and Corolla AE86 models. This car was known as Toyobaru until its first unveiling at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Toyota's decision to continue looking at the future amid the recall crisis it currently faces is indeed admirable. The FT-86 Sports Concept is said to be the forerunner of a new-generation Toyota sports car that's created to revive the spirit of the Corolla AE86.
The features that they share include its front-engine, rear-wheel drive format, and a lower than usual center of gravity. Powering the FT-86 is a 2.0-liter petrol unit with a six-speed manual gearbox, which Toyota claims is able to provide a lively, accessible performance and enhanced driving pleasure. The car's styling is described to be a Functional Beauty by Toyota's ED2 European design and development center.
Toyota said that the bodywork, which measures 4,160mm long overall, is designed to be as compact as possible. Its low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell is stretched tight over the engineering hard points. It has a highly functional cockpit that's designed to be ergonomically efficient. Toyota says further that the car uses sporting, ultra-lightweight components and finishes to support its balanced weight distribution and power to weight ratio. Instead of considering the 2+2 interior design as a stylized addition to the cabin framework, Toyota applied a thin, tight-fitting skin to the essential cockpit components. This can be observed in how the dashboard and seat upholstery were treated.
