.png)
UPDATE: Following the FT-Se's debut, British magazine Top Gear has reported that the concept is powered by a dual-motor powertrain––one motor powering each axle––paired with the company's "special" third-generation electric battery pack. This setup should allow for a 0-62 sprint in around three seconds, with a claimed top speed of 155 mph. It's also been stated that a production version wouldn't have any connections with an MR2 revival, despite the noticable similarities shared with the small sports car.
Amid the horde of Toyota concepts shown at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, arguably the most intriguing is the tiny FT-Se sports car. While it shares its GR badge with the likes of the Supra and GR86, it differs greatly from the performance division's other creations. Beneath its compact footprint and muscular build sits not an engine, but an electric battery. While it won't make much noise, the FT-Se is an example of what GR plans to bring to the table even without the joy of manual transmissions and spunky engines.
Those who follow Toyota closely will notice a striking resemblance shared with the GR Sports Concept from 2021. That concept was also electric, which means the FT-Se is likely an evolved take on what we hope is a planned revival for the small MR2 sports car.
Flanking the FT-Se's pointy hood is an aggressive set of vertical headlights. While the main lighting units are buried within the concept's plethora of aggressive black mesh, the standout feature here is the LED lighting signature that runs vertically through the ends of the front fascia, before continuing its illuminated path below the bodywork on both sides of each front wheel.
Moving past the pod-like cabin area and towards the concept's edgy rear haunches, the FT-Se features multi-spoke wheels laid over red brake calipers, along with flush door handles and compact side mirrors. The vehicle's general silhouette doesn't refrain from taking after the muscular profiles of larger-scale sports cars, and Toyota says its shape was dominantly molded by aerodynamics. At the rear, the FT-Se flaunts a slim set of LED taillights that feature raised outer edges to form razor-sharp fins, with a ducktail spoiler nestled in between. Down below, there's an extensive rear diffuser that blends in with the concept's bountiful black mesh.
The interior of the FT-Se echoes the dynamic flavor of its exterior. A modern yoke steering wheel is placed before the driver, flanked by smartphone-like displays that provide controls for the infotainment and other features. Meanwhile, there's a larger digital instrument cluster burrowed deeper behind the steering wheel, which appears to show the vehicle's speed, battery level, and other crucial information. The lower half of the cabin is clad in an eye-catching shade of blue to match the carbon fiber-backed Recaro bucket seats, delivered in the form of a trypophobia-inducing weave pattern.
Aside from affirming its all-electric underpinnings, Toyota has remained coy about powertrain specifics. But regardless of what powers the FT-Se, the concept displays Toyota's commitment to retaining a focus on the driver, even at a time when rowdy engines and shift-it-yourself transmissions are being sent to the history books.
Would you like to see a revived MR2 with this design?
Image Credits: Toyota
Revealed
Oct 29, 2023
•
Toyota's FT-Se Concept Sticks To The Driver Experience, Even Without An Engine
The bite-sized sports car could easily become a modern-day MR2 revival.
UPDATE: Following the FT-Se's debut, British magazine Top Gear has reported that the concept is powered by a dual-motor powertrain––one motor powering each axle––paired with the company's "special" third-generation electric battery pack. This setup should allow for a 0-62 sprint in around three seconds, with a claimed top speed of 155 mph. It's also been stated that a production version wouldn't have any connections with an MR2 revival, despite the noticable similarities shared with the small sports car.
Amid the horde of Toyota concepts shown at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, arguably the most intriguing is the tiny FT-Se sports car. While it shares its GR badge with the likes of the Supra and GR86, it differs greatly from the performance division's other creations. Beneath its compact footprint and muscular build sits not an engine, but an electric battery. While it won't make much noise, the FT-Se is an example of what GR plans to bring to the table even without the joy of manual transmissions and spunky engines.
Those who follow Toyota closely will notice a striking resemblance shared with the GR Sports Concept from 2021. That concept was also electric, which means the FT-Se is likely an evolved take on what we hope is a planned revival for the small MR2 sports car.
Flanking the FT-Se's pointy hood is an aggressive set of vertical headlights. While the main lighting units are buried within the concept's plethora of aggressive black mesh, the standout feature here is the LED lighting signature that runs vertically through the ends of the front fascia, before continuing its illuminated path below the bodywork on both sides of each front wheel.
Moving past the pod-like cabin area and towards the concept's edgy rear haunches, the FT-Se features multi-spoke wheels laid over red brake calipers, along with flush door handles and compact side mirrors. The vehicle's general silhouette doesn't refrain from taking after the muscular profiles of larger-scale sports cars, and Toyota says its shape was dominantly molded by aerodynamics. At the rear, the FT-Se flaunts a slim set of LED taillights that feature raised outer edges to form razor-sharp fins, with a ducktail spoiler nestled in between. Down below, there's an extensive rear diffuser that blends in with the concept's bountiful black mesh.
The interior of the FT-Se echoes the dynamic flavor of its exterior. A modern yoke steering wheel is placed before the driver, flanked by smartphone-like displays that provide controls for the infotainment and other features. Meanwhile, there's a larger digital instrument cluster burrowed deeper behind the steering wheel, which appears to show the vehicle's speed, battery level, and other crucial information. The lower half of the cabin is clad in an eye-catching shade of blue to match the carbon fiber-backed Recaro bucket seats, delivered in the form of a trypophobia-inducing weave pattern.
Aside from affirming its all-electric underpinnings, Toyota has remained coy about powertrain specifics. But regardless of what powers the FT-Se, the concept displays Toyota's commitment to retaining a focus on the driver, even at a time when rowdy engines and shift-it-yourself transmissions are being sent to the history books.
Would you like to see a revived MR2 with this design?
Image Credits: Toyota
