Toyota FT-HS Concept: new Toyota Supra preview

January 12, 2007 at 7:39 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concepts, International News, Toyota

Toyota’s FT-HS Concept is a separate vehicle from the Lexus LF-A, ending talk that the Lexus LF-A will be a Supra-replacement. Now it’s clear that Toyota’s replacement for the Supra is separate from the new Lexus supercar . The Toyota FT-HS Concept is about the size of a Lexus SC430 and is a rear wheel drive vehicle that employs an uprated version of the hybrid powertrain found in the Lexus GS450h. The hybrid power train is a combination of a 3.5 liter DOHC V6 petrol engine making 292hp mated to a 650V water-cooled electric motor making 197hp peak output.

The engineers of the Toyota FT-HS Concept had a few reasons for putting that hybrid power train in there. They had more than just environmental and fuel efficiency reasons for adding an electric motor to a conventional big displacement engine sports car formula. The sudden burst of power from an electric motor which runs at peak torque at all times can provide the driver a feeling of power boost similar to nitrous oxide.