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Toyota zal in Tokyo de FT-86 Concept voorstellen, de voorbode van de nieuwe Toyota Celica.

Het doel van Toyota mag al enige tijd duidelijk zijn: mooie en milieubewuste wagens bouwen, met de focus op hybride technologie. De nieuwe Celica zou hieraan niet ontsnappen de milieuvriendelijkste wagen in zijn soort moeten worden. De motor die dit concept aandrijft is een 2.0 liter grote viercilinder benzinemotor zonder turbo, die volgens Toyota zelf bijzonder veel rijplezier garandeert.

FT in de naamgeving staat voor Future Toyota en deze Future Toyota zal een achterwielaangedreven sportwagen worden, die niet alleen kracht levert, maar ook milieuvriendelijk is. Bovendien zal de wagen redelijk compact blijven, wat het gebruiksgemak van de wagen ten goede moet komen, al is de beperkte ruimte niet altijd even handig bij het vervoeren van bagage.

Niet alleen de motor, maar ook het design straalt sportiviteit uit. De wagen werd in Europa getekend en werd zodanig ontworpen dat het zwaartepunt zo laag mogelijk ligt, om een optimale wegligging te garanderen. Toyota laat verder nog weten dat deze FT-86 moet duidelijk maken dat het merk zin heeft om nogmaals een sportwagen te bouwen.

Toyota FT 86 Celica

Toyota FT 86 Celica

Toyota FT 86 Celica

Toyota FT 86 Celica

Toyota FT 86 Celica

Toyota FT 86 Celica

“TMC seeks to develop the ultimate earth-conscious environmentally-considerate vehicle with a focus on hybrid technologies without losing sight of the appeal of cars themselves or the joy of driving.

Over the past several years, the need has been rising for motor vehicles that take into consideration global warming and other environmental issues, while there has also been concern that there have been too few new sports cars that make the heart beat faster and that the time is right for a new generation of sports cars. In response to these needs, TMC has developed the FT-86 Concept, a sports car equipped with a 2,000cc, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that evokes the joy of driving a car and the pleasure of vehicle ownership.

As the name “Future Toyota 86 Concept” implies, the FT-86 Concept, which will be exhibited at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, is a new 86 Toyota with a flash red finish. It is a compact, rear-wheel drive sports concept car that embodies speed and the excitement of driving that give cars their appeal as well as environmental performance.

A Toyota Sports Car for a New Era when the Driver Plays the Main Role

The FT-86 Concept is 4,160mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,260mm high with a wheelbase of 2,570mm, giving it a compact feeling that is easy for the driver to handle while able to accommodate four occupants. In addition to being light and having a low center of gravity, the FT-86 Concept boasts the handling of a racing car as well as a 6-speed manual transmission and ADVICS brakes.

The stylish concept captures the heart with the “functional utility” of its highly-refined body. It is the creation of Toyota Europe Design Development known as ED2, which has established body lines that take into consideration a low center of gravity and aerodynamics. The interior is distinctive, featuring an instrument panel with a gray and white base, gauges with red neon lights and digital displays, and a navigation system. In addition, a zipper that evokes an image of interior lapping with minimal covering of a highly-refined body presents a striking display.

It is necessary to create a vehicle in which the driver plays the main role in order to have as many people as possible experience the joy of driving.

The FT-86 Concept is neither an electric vehicle nor a hybrid vehicle, but is a sports model with a gasoline engine developed to convey the essential appeal of automobiles in a new era. It is a must-see concept car that expresses TMC’s desire to once again create a Toyota sports car.”