Toyota FT-86 II Concept to be Revealed in Geneva


You know the drill. Lightweight coupe, FR layout, AE86 reborn. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March, the Toyota FT-86 II Concept will be revealed, one step closer to the production version.

Perhaps to go along with the minimalist theme, Toyota has issued one of the briefest press releases in history, along with this single teaser image. Read the press release here:

New Toyota concept to hint at next sports car
Brussels — The 2011 Geneva motor show will mark the premiere of a new evolution of the FT-86 sports concept vehicle presented for the first time at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. The FT-86 II concept will give the clearest indication yet of the final design for Toyota’s next sports car. Toyota has over 50 year-long history of creating exciting sports cars, and this new concept embodies the company’s reborn passion for sports car driving.

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20 Responses to Toyota FT-86 II Concept to be Revealed in Geneva

  1. Lee says:

    It better be light and inexpensive.

  2. zulu says:

    I have come to a somewhat realization that the ft-86 is just a rebadged subaru =( its like back in the 80s when the starion was labeled as the conquest. sure thats fine but I want a real cheaper ish toyota sports car that doesnt have a flat four as its heart.

  3. Komeko says:

    They should have sent out next year’s press release at the same time, and save the stamp:
    New Toyota concept to hint at next sports car
    Brussels — The 2012 Geneva motor show will mark the premiere of a new evolution of the FT-86 sports concept vehicle presented for the first time at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. The FT-86 III concept will give the clearest indication yet of the final design for Toyota’s next sports car. Toyota has over 50 year-long history of creating exciting sports cars, and this new concept embodies the company’s reborn passion for sports car driving.”
    If they just add more Roman numerals and a digit to the year, they can keep this thing going for another ten years before the remaining fans give up like the rest of us did two years ago.

  4. Tyler says:

    Komeko, that’s exactly what I thought. With the LFA and now this, who really trusts Toyota’s timeline anymore? My bet is it comes in over price and over weight, two years later than we’d hoped.

  5. Ben says:

    To be fair, Akio Toyoda took the reins in 2009, and we all know product development takes a while. If he is serious about bringing sporty back, it will be 2012-13 at the earliest.

  6. drift86 says:

    Agreed, but maybe the partnership with Subaru will speed production up and keep MSRP down. My big concern is that this car will not be able deliver on the spirit it’s trying to evoke with its namesake. Banking on the name of an iconic car for sales hype is a ridculous marketing ploy. I mean look at the Mustang II. If they were really concerned about bringing sports cars back into their lineup they could have resurected the Supra, S800 or 2000GT. Toyota dont let us down!!!

  7. Nigel says:

    To keep the faith we would like to see it in 2 years, and it cannot be a variation of anything called a Scion.

  8. Camshaft says:

    Available colours: Silver, grey, slightly different variant of grey, beige.

    Toyota may have a “sporty car heritage” but the last decade or so has been pretty pathetic from a brand-image standpoint. Good luck, I guess.

  9. Komeko says:

    This is the same shape, the same chassis, and the same design team that was shopping around this car at the shows in 2007, so they had two years into development at that point already. The only difference is they were calling it the FT-HS then, and touting it as the rebirth of the Celica. It’s the same car. It’s the same claim to bring a low cost, rear wheel drive, sporty car back to Toyota. Very sorry to all the wishful thinkers, but Toyota has been crying wolf for at least seven years now, and those with sense have been ignoring the wolf cries for two years.

    • Ben says:

      The FT-HS was intended to be a hybrid and and was a completely different design than the FT-86. It was intended to go up against the 350Z and RX-8. The shapes are similar in the same way an AE86 hatch and MA61 Celica Supra are similar so it’s not really fair to say the FT-86 was part of that project.

      • Komeko says:

        The FT-86 was going to be a hybrid in 2009 and the expected sticker price went past $30,000 in 2010, when it was retasked to be an entry level, high fuel economy Lexus. It’s now set to compete against the 370Z. And the current exchange rate has this thing with a base price of $35,000. The FT-86 is the FT-HS. They’ve been all over the board with this project, punching every button they can reach. The whole project has turned into a laughable mess.

        • Dan says:

          I never heard any of the rumors you’re referring to ($30k hybrid from 2009, or high fuel economy Lexus). Where did you hear this?

  10. Zechs says:

    All I hope is that toyota also makes a version with a straight-4 yamaha head 1.6, 2.0 or 1.8L.
    That would really be the enthousiast car, for racing the boxer could be a great engine because of the lowerd gravity.
    But for me a nice new improved 3SGE beams, 4AGE BT/ST or maybe a 2ZZ-GE would be perfect.

    If they get an option for a toyota engine then the FT86 wil be my new daily driver for sure.
    For now I’m gone sit back and hope… on the other hand it would save me a lot of money if they keep the boxer :p

  11. Jesse says:

    I’m not excited. If it’s imported into the US, it’ll be overweight, if only because of safety standards. I’m sure the dash and GPS and stereo and the piles of airbags will be a couple hundred pounds as well.

    Let’s face it, folks. Japanese nostalgic cars aren’t coming back. Gone are the days of underpowered, lightweight ‘economy’ cars that were fun to drive. They just don’t exist any more (other than the Miata… but that’s an exception to the rule).

  12. chris says:

    Toyota has said this car will be here by the end of this year, meaning 2011. Much of the design work has been completed and the “concept” should basically be incredibly close to the real thing. I really hope this is the rebirth of the “Celica” badge that Toyota so desparately needs to bring back.

  13. Eljay says:

    I weren´t to fond of the FT-86 to begin with,but time and driving it´s virtual counterpart in Gran Turismo 5 has made me change my tune.I´m very excited about it now. Still,I think I´m even more excited about the Aygo-based rwd hot hatch that Gazoo Racing is working on.

  14. Jesse says:

    I own an ae86 and an mk1 mr2. And I’m not sure I really want a new Toyota. The build quality and reliability are just not there anymore. I bet after all the hype about the ft86 being affordable when it comes out it will be 30k. I’d rather see Toyota release a miata style roadster with a 1.3ish direct injected turbo. 50mpg and fun would sell.

  15. Joel says:

    It’s a rebadged Subaru and going by the latest hyundai-eske styling Subaru’s provided lately, i’m braced to be disappointed.

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