Green Means Go (Fast): Toyota FT-HS reportedly coming in 2009
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The June '07 print edition of Automobile casually drops a bit of a bombshell in page 30. They report that Toyota has given the FT-HS hybrid sports car the green light for production. You should remember the FT-HS concept from this year's Detroit Auto Show, where it was one of the most significant unveilings. The Calty-designed production version will make its debut in 2009. Essentially a successor to the Supra, the two-seater will leverage the automaker's Hybrid Synergy Drive and a to-be-determined gasoline engine (the concept utilized a 3.5-liter V6). Power and pricing are still a mystery, but the concept sported 400 horses and was designed to sell at a mid-level dollar amounts. If those numbers (or similar ones) carry through to production, you won't hear any complaints from us. If you've been waiting for a hybrid sports car, it looks as if Toyota's getting ready to give you exactly that.
Gallery: Toyota FT-HS-large
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[Source: Automobile, June 2007]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 1:33PM (5/09/2007)
This reminded me of one of my daydreams :-p I've been thinking of the Tesla Roadster lately and wonder why GM and Ford don't release something like a limited edition EV of cars like the corvette or the mustang saleen. I think this would work because people expect to pay more for sports cars. It sure wouldn't save the world but it would get more EV's in public view and help advanced battery companies like A123 ramp up capacity.
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Jim 1:39PM (5/09/2007)
Very interesting! I do think it will have positive impact on our environment - every little bit we do to reduce emissions and fuel consumption is a very good thing! I for one am very sad the Hybrid Accord appears to be on its way out - I guess with four doors it doesn't qualify as a sports car, but I love the idea of having all that power on tap, yet still getting the gas mileage of a four cylinder! Maybe I'm just too fascinated with technology...
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TG 2:30PM (5/09/2007)
Matt,
Are you kidding? They do not release a sexy EV Corvette or Mustang Saleen because they are afraid it could really catch on.
The *Volt* is a flex-car in the hope they can do mainly fuel cell and biofuel with it.
They Hate the Elecric Vehicle [EV]
Chevron: and the gang
============
Keeping you captive to gas and diesel means profit margins wide enough to finance a new 15 Billion$ refinery out of your pocket and not out of company surpluses.
General Motors: Big three and all
============
Keeping you captive to gas and diesel engines means the golden profits goose for parts and service will live on. There is no parts and service gold-mine in the Electric Car. Too simple. Like your electric fan. No rad, no hoses, no muffler, no filters, no fluids, no injectors, no spark plugs, no pumps, no pressures, ad infinitum.
Government: Feds and provincial
===========
More than 50% of every gas dollar you spend goes to Government. While every KWH gives you 95% value from the wall outlet through your EV tires to the road. [ until they set up kiosks to read your EV mileage for road taxes, semi-annually]
Unions: Buzz and the boys
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Too obvious why they hate Evs.
Belinda and Magna: - Canadian Tire: - Lordco: yadda
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Also too obvious. Auto parts not required!
And now they all hate me for saying so. If I disappear, only Conrad Black will not be a suspect. = TG
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Tony Belding 7:20PM (5/09/2007)
The reason why GM doesn't make an electric Corvette is because they are too timid and lacking in imagination. I recently read that GM are once again contemplating a mid-engine Corvette. Well. . . They've shown mid-engine Corvette Stingray concept cars as far back as the 1970s, and they looked fantastic, but they were never slated for production. Now they are thinking about it again but probably won't produce because it's judged to be "too radical".
Think about that for a moment. . . If a mid-engine Corvette is still considered "too radical" more than 30 years after they showed the original concept cars, then I guess the thought of an electric Corvette would blow their tiny minds. We'll just have to depend on Tesla to come through with this idea.
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Murc 11:11PM (5/09/2007)
The Tesla roadster is overhyped.
said to cost like 80 grand...and are now selling for 100 grand.
said to have a range of 250 miles, currently have a range of 200-220 miles
Current battery tech is pretty poor, its advancing...but slowly, EV's battery of choice is the Lithium-Ion...which is a pretty good battery, but has its downsides, like its not good for the battery to completely empty, and they dont work as well (mean good by 200 miles range) in the cold. Well, come to think of it, that wouldn't effect California all that much, which is where the vast majority of EV cars get sold to (which is internationally known as the tree-hugger state).
As for the article, cool & good.
First some good Chevy Volt news...and now this...finally fuel efficient cars will actually look good.
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Robert 1:25PM (7/05/2007)
Wow very nice, a sports car hybrid is just what I've been wanting. I'm not sure I love the styling of this one though. My main hope is it will be a plug-in hybrid, which will allow me to drive my short 30 mile daily commute without the gas engine even kicking in.
One thing I dont understand about performance hybrids is why the engine has to be a 6 cylinders, the performance is coming from the electric motor, and unless your driving all out petal to the metal all the time, or 150mph on the freeway for an extended time. I'd think a smaller engine could catch up in charging the batteries over time, allowing short periods of heavy accelertion followed by longer periods of cruising.
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