Toyota FT-86 - new pics

Toyota has released new pictures of its FT-86 sports car concept; including a ‘family portrait’ of it next to its spiritual predecessors.

The new set of pictures shows the rear-drive FT-86 next to the Corolla AE86, the Supra and Celica, as well as new detail shots. The FT-86 will be a production reality by 2012, arriving in the UK with a target price of less than £20,000 for the entry-level model.

See the new Toyota FT-86 pictures

Autocar recently caught up with the FT-86’s chief designer Jaromir Cech. He said the car’s low bonnet line and ground-hugging appearance were the result of the concept using Subaru’s 2.0-litre boxer engine.

Mechanically, the car is fairly conventional. Toyota hasn’t revealed any official details, but its suspension set-up is probably wishbones at the front and almost certainly multi-link at the rear. The transmission is likely to be a six-speed manual and the chassis will be conventional rear-wheel drive.

What will make it special, claims Toyota, is the ultra-light kerb weight - which may be as low as 1250kg in production trim - its purity of response, its handling agility and the fact it will have a proper limited-slip differential.

Another distinguishing feature will be its interior, and in particular its dashboard, which may even include software that provides data acquisition for a host of race circuits.

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