Fans, enthusiasts and players of the Gran Turismo 6 (GT6) – exclusive on PlayStation3 – could now download the “Vision GT,” the virtual high-powered version of Toyota’s FT-1 sports car concept. A red version of the stunning FT-1 was available to download earlier this year – one of the two physical interpretations of the strikingly beautiful sports car concept.
The second version, the graphite FT-1 is available now. The FT-1 Concept was designed by Calty Design Research, Toyota’s design studio in Newport Beach, California with an aim of stunning the world with bold, sculpted lines that exudes speed and power.
To celebrate a decade and a half of the Gran Turismo series, Calty gave birth to an ultra-high-performance race version of the FT-1, albeit a virtual, only for GT6. The Vision GT represents what a race version of the FT-1 might achieve on the track.
Even before building the FT-1 concept vehicle, key Toyota executives like Toyota President Akio Toyoda were able to experience how to drive this sports car virtually in the GT6 game.
Signifying the peak of Calty's 40th year of operation, the spectacular design of the new Toyota FT-1 represents a marriage between emotional and rational aspects, as guided by the Toyota design ethos of Vibrant Clarity.
These aspects were the key to the creation of a car with more exciting, dramatic and expressive design as laden with distinct Toyota identity – allowing the FT-1 to become a spiritual pace car for Toyota Global Design. This ideological shift was aimed at developing future generations of vehicles that could connect emotionally – at a higher level -- with the carmaker’s customers around the world.
As per tradition, Toyota determines its designs in accordance with the consensus among a large group of stakeholders. Now, Toyota is taking a new approach, with the design decision process now more streamlined, as stated by the directive made by Akio Toyoda to revive Toyota products with energy, passion and "Waku-Doki," which is a Japanese terms for a heart-pounding sense of excitement.
With this new approach, Toyota is aiming to build vehicles that graft deeper connection with customers. These vehicles deliver a more satisfying ownership experience that complements the carmaker’s iconic reputation for quality, reliability and dependability.
Toyota’s "function-sculpting" design language allows the carmaker to give the FT-1 curved, muscular body forms that give the impression of having been shaped by the wind. To help with efficient air management, the new FT-1 comes with a number of inlets, ducting and vents. The new FT-1 also features a retractable rear wing that -- at higher speeds -- deploys and tilts forward to generate extra downforce. Its taut surfaces and expressive fender forms reveal the concept’s athleticism, and they are especially charming when covered in red.
By pursuing a front engine rear-wheel drive configuration, Toyota was able to move the cockpit of the FT-1 rearward within the wheelbase, thereby enhancing the concept’s weight distribution. This also allowed the new FT-1 to boast of classic sports car proportions that bestow it with the capability to tackle challenging road courses. The cockpit features a wraparound windshield and side glass openings that pay tribute to the design of the Toyota 2000GT.
