Geneva 2013: Toyota FT-86 Open Concept

Chances are you may have already seen the topless Toyota 86, but if not here it is. At this stage the 86 convertible is being referred to as a concept model, but production prototypes are undergoing testing as we speak. Apart from that Toyota hasn’t really said much else about its chopped 86 other than it has a pretty white interior to match its white paint scheme.

Overall, if you’re a fan of convertibles, we reckon you’ll probably like this FT-86 Open Concept, it looks quite smart. As is often the case though, there may be a reason we’ve not been presented with any photos of the electrically controlled roof in the closed position.

 

From Toyota Australia:

Toyota reveals 86 convertible concept ahead of Geneva

01 March 2013 – Toyota will display the FT-86 Open concept, a rear-wheel-drive sports convertible, at the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show, starting next week.

The FT-86 Open concept is a study model based on the rear-wheel-drive 86 sports car that was created to test and verify potential sports car variations.

The concept features an electrically operated soft top, allowing a feeling of oneness with nature while maintaining the joy and sense of oneness with the vehicle created by the 86.

A Milan-based designer colour-coordinated the interior and exterior, with the resulting design evoking quality and sportiness.

The interior and exterior feature high-contrast white and navy blue that emphasise the vehicle’s proportions as well as the integrated nature of the design.

In addition, yellow-gold stitching in the floor mats and seats acts as an accent conveying a sporty feel.

The styling conveys a dramatically different impression when the roof is opened.

The world premiere of the concept in Geneva is occurring at the same time as prototype engineering assessments take place.

Toyota’s 2013 Geneva motor show presence will also include the European debut of the fourth-generation RAV4, which has just gone on sale in Australia.

Toyota’s press conference in Geneva will be at 1 p.m. (11 p.m. AEDT) on Tuesday, March 5.

 

World debut for Toyota FT-86 Open Concept

• Toyota to unveil new FT-86 Open at Geneva motor show
  
• Concept created to gauge reaction to possible development of a cabriolet version of the GT86 sports coupe
  
• Soft-top design allows 2+2 seating format to be retained, with minimal impact on boot space
  
• Unique colour scheme created in Milan to reflect the city’s world-leading design status

01 March 2013 – Toyota will present its new FT-86 Open concept for the first time at the Geneva motor show, a car created to test the water for the possible introduction of a convertible version of its globally acclaimed GT86 sports coupe.

The concept has been designed to deliver the lively, highly engaging and accessible performance and dynamic abilities of the GT86 with the added appeal of top-down motoring.

Its external dimensions match those of the coupe (length 4,240mm, width 1,750mm, height 1,270mm), with the fixed hard-top replaced by a multi-layered fabric roof with a glass rear screen. Inside it has the same 2+2 seating format, with the roof folding down behind the fixed rear seats, with minimal impact on the space available for luggage.

The show car has a special pure bright white and navy blue colour scheme designed by Toyota Boshoku Milan Design (TBMD) to capture the spirit and atmosphere of Milan, one of the world’s leading centres for fashion and design. The bodywork is finished in white, contrasting with the blue of the roof. Inside, the perforated white leather upholstery is layered over a navy blue backing, with golden yellow accent stitching and carpets.

The FT-86 Open uses the same platform and powertrain as the GT86. At its heart is the naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed 1,998cc four cylinder “boxer” engine. Equipped with Toyota’s D-4S direct injection technology, this compact unit is set low, helping lower the car’s overall centre of gravity, and is capable of producing 100bhp per litre. It drives the rear wheels through a short-throw, six-speed manual gear shift or a six-speed automatic – the latter with the world’s fastest paddle shift speed, just two tenths of a second.

As with the production GT86, it features MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension to give a direct handling feel, instant response and a high level of control. The electric power steering has a quick 13.1:1 ratio that’s on a par with racing models, while large ventilated disc brakes fore and aft deliver excellent pedal feel for car control finesse.

Toyota has pinpointed numerous areas that will need further engineering evaluation to assess the impact of the cabriolet design on performance, vehicle rigidity, balance, weight and aerodynamics. However, with features such as frameless doors, the GT86 was designed with the development of a cabriolet in mind, which means the impact on structural rigidity by converting to an open-top design should not be great. Efficient measures to preserve rigidity are being analysed, such as the use of door lock reinforcements.

GT86 has a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution, helping deliver ideal response to even subtle steering, throttle and brake inputs, and a low, 460mm centre of gravity. While introducing a fabric roof is likely to bring the centre of gravity even lower, further engineering analysis will be needed to match the balance of the coupe.

GT86 tips the scales at only 1257kg, thanks to comprehensive weight-saving measures, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of around 160bhp per tonne This is crucial to performance, given the car uses an engine with a relatively small capacity. Engineering the cabriolet to be “weight-neutral” relative to the coupe will be a key area of study should Toyota decided to progress with the project.