Toyota wants a hybrid sports car, once lithium batteries are ready
Toyota hasn't had a sports car in their lineup since the demise of the Supra coupe and the MRS roadster in recent years and they don't like to leave a market segment unfilled. To that end, they are working something more performance oriented. Last January at the Detroit Auto Show, they debuted a concept called the FT-HS that they indicated was likely hit production in the coming years. A few months later, at the SAE World Congress, there was a panel discussion on the compatibility of performance and efficiency. The conclusion of most of the panelists was that hybrids provide an ideal way of increasing performance while maintaining the fuel economy and emissions of smaller engines.
As luck would have it, the Toyota FT-HS did have a hybrid drive-train and it seems a certainty that any production example will have a similar propulsion system. To get the most out of a hybrid sports car, Toyota wants to minimize weight and that means using a lithium ion battery pack. Unfortunately for Toyota, the company seems to be running behind in that area so a new sports car from Toyota is probably at least a few years away. Also unfortunately for Toyota, they may be beaten to market by the new Honda CR-Z that debuted at last month's Tokyo Motor Show and may arrive in showrooms by 2009.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anth 3:20PM (11/12/2007)
Hurry up Toyota! I want my FT-HS. The car looks great - like it could transform into something.
Reply
naggs 3:23PM (11/12/2007)
"To get the most out of a hybrid sports car, Toyota wants to minimize weight"
how about you minimize weight by getting rid of the hybrid system? a sportscar that weighs 2000 lbs and has 150 hp will feel faster than a hybrid 3500 lbs with 400 hp. even with the lithium batteries, its still hundreds of pounds that will be added on. quit trying to make pigs dance and get back to making sportscars light.
as another advantage, it will be more fun to drive, get better milage and cost about 1/3rd to make.
leave hybrids to where they can do the most good, on large trucks and passenger vehicles. the 25% better milage you get off a full size truck saves more fuel than putting hybrid systems on 5 compact cars while the hybrid system on a small car barely overcomes the additional weight.
but its not about saving fuel, its about marketing and looking green while you continue to expand the number of 10 mpg tundra variations you sell.
Reply
Throwback 3:28PM (11/12/2007)
As a sports car fan I have a hard time accepting a hybrid sports car. I like my sports cars as light and agile as possible. I see this car as more of a cushy GT, very much like the Lexus GS450H. It may be fast in a straight line, but changing direction with all that battery weight is no fun.
Reply
CJ 6:45PM (11/12/2007)
Has anyone ever noticed how everyone has complaints but no one has any real answers? I like the chances various companies are making in trying in any way to help. I think hybrid-whatever is a good idea as long as it actually increases the mileage more than the current vehicle gets.
Stop complaining and telling the company what to do. You think they're going to log on here and say, "Oh crap, that guy with the internet pseudonym 'naggs' said we can't do this! Let's stop production... NOW!"
Grow up.
Reply
mike 6:57PM (11/12/2007)
This is what I'm looking for. The prius is nice, but, I'd like a smooth riding, great braking, great handling, high mileage plugin. Bring it on Toyota.
Reply
Throwback 7:33PM (11/12/2007)
So CJ, we should not give our opinions, on a blog?
The point of a sports car is performance. Toyota's lone hybrid "performance" car (GS450H) is over weight and by all accounts un-rewarding to drive. Hybrids are good for certain types of vehicles, sports cars are not one of them. Just my opinion Toyota, so feel free to ignore me.
Reply
Chris M 2:38AM (11/13/2007)
Yes, a sports car should be fairly light, and the weight it does have should be placed low for better handling. But that's not necessarily incompatable with hybrid technology.
The standard Prius NiMH battery weighs about 110 pounds, that is less weight than your average passenger. A LiIon version with similar capacity would be about half that, although for a sports car a larger more powerful pack would be preferred. Also, consider that some weight is saved with a smaller lighter IC engine, and no 12 volt starter motor. The battery can be placed low, in front or in rear, or even centered under the seat, whatever makes for best handling.
The best part is having 2 powerful electric motors with full torque right from the start, no clutch slip, no torque converter, no hesitation, no shift lag, just smooth continuous acceleration from zero to top speed!
Reply
BlackbirdHighway 7:13AM (11/13/2007)
The Tesla is sporty enough for me, so I don't need a hybrid.
The specs I've seen on this Toyota car are impressive. But don't be decieved by the hybrid term. They aren't using the hybrid drive for economy at all, they are using it for performance. Even Formula 1 is going that way in 2010. I don't think you could want a higher perfomance "sports" car than that!
Reply
Throwback 8:00AM (11/13/2007)
I also prefer to shift my own gears, another negative for a Toyota hyrbid sports car to me. Unless they use a dual clutch gearbox which I think is unlikely
Reply
Anne 8:08AM (11/13/2007)
I need your help for my diploma thesis!
Who knows something about hybrid cars?
What is your opinion about it?
http://cmc.psych.uni-goettingen.de/wsg/index.php?sCode=252d302a060a1441
Thanks you very much,
Anne
Reply
Mike 5:43PM (11/13/2007)
If Toyota ever does build a hybrid sports car, hopefully it won't look like that uh, uh...thing.
Reply
middleoroad 10:56PM (11/20/2007)
Hybrid hype is crap.You can get your 60 mpg by optimizing a 1.0L subcompact.If you really want to save the earth wouldn't you be able to put up with it?There's just not enough profit in it.Toyota is a world leader in diesel,and in 1.0 L subcompacts.But they know money when they smell it,HSD smells like money.
Reply
Chris M 11:58PM (11/20/2007)
I hear ya, Mike. The Giugliardi designed Toyota Volta concept is a much better looking hybrid sportscar design than the FT-HS, too bad Toyota hasn't gone anywhere with it. However, I doubt the FT-HS will make it into production as-is, some of the more exotic aspects will probably be cut.
Reply