Toyota has previewed the first electric sports car from its Gazoo Racing performance division, the FT-Se concept, at the Tokyo motor show.
Company boss Koji Sato vowed the machine would be small, low, light and fun, adding that the production version of the high-performance EV will arrive with a driving feel unlike anything else on the road today, the brand claims.
The FT-Se – a development of the unnamed Toyota MR2-sized concept that was revealed in late 2021 – prioritises “handling stability and aerodynamic performance”.
A key facilitator of these objectives will be Toyota's new-era modular architecture and energy-dense battery technology. Shared with the FT-3e SUV concept and the Lexus LF-ZC and LF-ZL concepts that was also unveiled at the Tokyo show, the new technology will allow next-generation Toyota EVs to have a “low centre of gravity” without sacrificing range or performance.
“We are making battery EVs like only a true car maker can,” said Sato. “This means revisiting the fundamentals of car making and delivering based on performance, like driving range and as well as value that only BEVs can offer.
“One example is making cars with both a low centre of gravity and a spacious interior, which was not possible in the past. To do this we need to make the main components much smaller and lighter and deploy our strength as a car maker to put them together in the best package possible.
“Achieving this means that the design, the driving feel and everything else can be transformed.”
He added: "EVs are not only eco-friendly. They also offer their own flavour of driving fun and automotive [characteristics]. They can deliver diverse experience values."
A defining feature for the cars that sit on this modular electric architecture is the flexibility it offers in size, shape and powertrain layout. The vehicles are split into three parts (front, centre and rear) using a new gigacasting production process that greatly reduces the number of components, which increases strength, reduces cost and allows for more freedom of form.
Join the debate
Add your comment
The GR86 or whatever it was called that Toyota had out recently was supposed to be affordable but it certainly was not at least here in Ireland anyway.
You can buy a decent early one for £6k, what more do you want?
I'm all over this car but I'm not sure how it can be a replacement for the MR2 when that car was relatively affordable in 2007 but this one is no doubt going to cost BIG bucks.
I bought a Mazda MX5 brand new a few years ago and the car, dealership and Mazda UK were all terrible despite what I'd read. Fingers crossed this car happens and Toyota don't get too greedy with the price so I can finally get the reliable fun car my terrible MX-5 was supposed to be.