Toyota FT-86 II Concept aims for Melbourne

Recent word from Toyota confirms their FT-86 II Concept, first revealed at Geneva in March, will be on show at this year’s Australian International Motor Show. In its new rotating host arrangement the 2011 show will be held in Melbourne (1–10 July).

Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner is excited by the ‘Toybaru’ FT-86 II Concept, stating, “It heralds a compact, rear-drive production car with the style, performance and handling demanded by those who regard driving as a passion rather than a necessity.”

TOYOTA TO DISPLAY SPORTS-CAR PASSION IN AUSTRALIA

Toyota will stimulate the passion of local driving enthusiasts when it previews a next-generation sports car at the Australian International Motor Show in July.

The FT-86 II concept points to a new chapter in Toyota’s long history of producing cars that capture the intrinsic fun of driving.

It provides the clearest indication yet of the final design for a new driver-oriented rear-wheel drive sports car to be launched soon by Toyota.

Production of the compact sports car is due to start next year, with an Australian launch in the second half of 2012 or the first half of 2013.

Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said the FT-86 II concept and its production successor will build customer excitement around the Toyota brand.

“FT-86 II pays homage to Toyota’s illustrious sports car history that includes cars such as the Supra, MR2 and 2000GT,” Mr Buttner said.

“Its name is derived from another legendary Toyota, the AE86 Corolla, also known as Hatchi-Roku, which means 8-6 in Japanese,” he said.

“It heralds a compact, rear-drive production car with the style, performance and handling demanded by those who regard driving as a passion rather than a necessity.”

Mr Buttner said Toyota’s global president Akio Toyoda believes the mission of car-makers is to provide the fundamental excitement of cars to customers – vehicles that people want to drive.

“The FT-86 II concept illustrates one of the ways Toyota plans to bring that mission to life,” he said.

Toyota has achieved a remarkably sleek and low bonnet line for the FT-86 II by employing a front-mounted horizontally opposed (Boxer) engine.

An ideal power-to-weight ratio has been achieved by mating the free-revving engine with a six-speed manual transmission and the sports coupe’s compact dimensions, light weight, low centre of gravity and aerodynamics developed from F1â„¢ technology.

Its muscular bodywork is stretched tightly over the engineering hard points, providing a long 2,570mm wheelbase within a compact vehicle that is 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and just 1,270mm high.

The powertrain and driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimise balance for maximum poise, high-speed stability and dynamic agility.

The FT-86 II concept is the result of an August 2009 announcement that Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries would launch a jointly developed compact rear-wheel drive sports car.