Update 3 11.27.14

Has there been another concept with the impact of the FT-1? We cannot think of another vehicle this year that has created more buzz.

Of course, the FT-1 is just the leading edge of what many hope will become a showroom supercar in the next few years under the vaulted Supra badge. Toyota’s collaboration with BMW on a future sports-car appears to indicate the eventual Supra will be based of a version of the BMW Z4’s chassis, albeit highly modified for a possible production debut of a hybrid-R electric boost setup. Primary power is expected to come from the BMW twin-turbo engine similar to that in the new M4, so we may be looking at abou 450-horsepower from the main engine and up to 100 horsepower via the hybrid booster.

 

UPDATED with 99 high-res, real-life photos 8.17.14

The most striking things about the FT-1 in person are its captivating beauty, extremely long-hooded proportions, and intense aero detailing.

The headlight units themselves are exposed LED laser lenses, while the lower radiator fans are event more prominent on version two of the car versus version one.

Another striking observation that we missed on the red Detroit debut car? The FT-1 is a 2+2!

There are rear seats and a rear strut-tower brace visible on this Pebble Beach car — which is one of the most popular on the concept lawns that also house the P1 GTR and many other one-off beauties.

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Just when the FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo is building buzz – Toyota has doubled down on the future Supra joy with version two of this miraculous concept.

The new color makes it much easier to enjoy and appreciate the FT-1;s huge panel swoops and shaping – with extra tweaks to the design from extensive time in the wind tunnels.

All this bodes very, very well for the next Supra road car – which is widely believed to be in development with the FT-1 detailing at perhaps 95-percent of the final product.

One thing…. ?

We can’t help but notice that this color is remarkably similar to one rendered on this website last month!  =]

Toyota FT-1 – rendered color

Toyota FT-1 Version Two – World Debut Pebble Beach

 

 

Toyota FT-1 Concept Version Two

 

 

 

 

 

Official Details from Toyota Below.

DO A DOUBLE TAKE WITH SECOND STUNNING TOYOTA FT-1 SPORTS CAR CONCEPT

• Saddle Leather Interior Communicates Premium, Sporty Feel
• Superhero Inspiration in Performance Leather and Details
• Ultra High-Performance Race Version Coming Virtually to Gran Turismo® 6

TORRANCE, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2014) – Proof that its beauty lies on the inside and out, Toyota revealed today a second interior styling and exterior color for an upscale interpretation of its sensational FT-1 sports car concept. Developed by Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California, the concept vehicle’s graphite exterior paint and light, saddle-colored leather went on display for the first time at the Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival gala held on California’s Monterey Peninsula.

The original FT-1 concept ignited sports car enthusiasts and the automotive world with its January debut at the North American International Auto Show. Labeled the spiritual pace car for the new direction of Toyota Global Design, the muscular, curved exterior builds on Toyota’s rich sports coupe heritage dating back to the 2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR2 and most recently Scion FR-S. That first vehicle stunned in a bold red, while this second FT-1 impresses with sophisticated graphite. Both share the deeply sculpted intakes and outlets that support its track-ready nature and the dramatic lines seemingly shaped by the wind. It’s a look that gets the heart racing.

The color of the upscale leather changes between the first and second FT-1 vehicles, and the visual difference is striking. The first car was dominated by bold, masculine black that keeps the driver focused on the road, while red painted edges and raw metals provide intriguing accents. In the second, the natural leather on the seat is supple with an all-natural grain, giving it an authentic appeal. The painted edges that are red in the first concept are now subtly blended brown in the second. The intention is to bring in a more sophisticated feel and authenticity through color choice, showcasing the versatility of the FT-1 sports car concept. Enthusiasts who desire a more pure high-performance experience might choose the black-red pairing, while others may desire the premium, athletic feel of the saddle leather.

“From the start of the FT-1 project, we wanted the driver to have a feeling of flow while at the wheel – to be able to focus on the road and nothing else,” said Sellene Lee, the Calty creative designer who proposed both color concepts. “In the color studio we help create the atmosphere of the vehicle, and our aim was to ensure everything supported the driver through efficient choices. The saddle leather maintains that same ‘in the zone’ driving intention, while bringing in a more premium feeling.”

Superhero Inspiration for the Interior

Sellene Lee drew inspiration for the FT-1 interior from the modern, high-tech performance materials used for today’s superhero costumes. A movie poster drew her attention to the modern shift from past heroes’ bright tights and colors to today’s performance fabrics and function. To achieve the FT-1’s advanced-looking, intricately detailed interior, Sellene Lee and the team compared leather thicknesses, grain sizes and textures to find the perfect combination. Raised metal mesh provides ventilation for the seats while lending a more textural, bold effect that beautifully matches with the metal accents. A dimensional embossed pattern on the instrument panel leather brings in a 3-D, technical look.

“From color and trim standpoint in the FT-1, there was a laser-like focus on staying true to function,” said Wendy Lee, studio chief designer at Calty. “This project was very special, as the FT-1 stands apart in its performance-driven, authentic purpose.”

Beyond her superhero performance material concept, Sellene Lee moved away from the typical stitching or piping edge treatment found in many vehicle interiors. The painted red edges on the welded leather and painted brown edges on the second FT-1 were inspired by high-end leather bags she found in an upscale department store. When drivers sit in FT-1, they can feel the difference in materials, textures and color choices that resulted from the team’s work.

Double the Fun in Gran Turismo 6

This September, two new versions of the FT-1 will be available for download virtually inside Gran Turismo 6 (GT6), the latest iteration of the best-selling racing franchise exclusively on PlayStation®3. Like the red FT-1 introduced in January, the graphite FT-1 concept roars onto the Gran Turismo 6 racetrack as a downloadable vehicle for a limited time. Additionally, in celebration of the 15^th anniversary of the Gran Turismo series, Calty has also designed an ultra high-performance race version of the FT-1 that inside the game is called the FT-1 “Vision GT.” This high-powered version interprets what a full-race FT-1 might achieve on the track. See how the FT-1 Vision GT came to life by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuXFyCHp59w

The GT6 played an important role in helping key executives (including Toyota President Akio Toyoda) better experience the FT-1 concept prior to building the vehicle. Both virtual versions capture the same excitement, passion and performance the physical FT-1 vehicles inspire in those who see them.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world’s top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we’ve built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in 2013 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.
 
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company’s extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
 
About the Gran Turismo® Franchise
Gran Turismo® celebrates its 15^th anniversary in 2013, having first appeared internationally in 1998. The multi-award-winning franchise has been the most successful ever for PlayStation®, and in 2013 it also surpassed worldwide sales of 70 million units. Various iterations of Gran Turismo have  been created for PlayStation® , PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 and PSP (PlayStation® Portable), and have always been regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulators ever created due to true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology and design. Since the inception of Gran Turismo, famed creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it today. His offerings provide the most realistic driving simulation in the industry and a unique medium for automotive manufacturers to showcase their products. Gran Turismo®5, the latest iteration of the game, was released in 2010 and has sold 10 million units worldwide. The latest entry into the franchise, Gran Turismo®6, released on December 6, 2013.
_{“Gran Turismo”, “Gran Turismo 6,” “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, LLC}

 

 

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Art Imitates Life.

Life Imitates Art.

Such a truism is very valid in the case of the FT-1 – which Toyota has just teased in its next form as a hard-core (virtual) racing special.

The FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo differs from the road-going version of the car in many standard race-ready ways.

Starting from the front: there is a much deeper aero package and chin spoiler, easy-off hood panels with racing latches, upgrades brakes and tires and huge fender-top slats to reduce any trapped air from the wheels.

These slats drastically reduce under-hood temps as well as being a serious asset for downforce. Why? Trapped wheel-well air pressure can de-stabilize a car and make it righ slightly higher than is optimal for ground-effects on the track.

The same slats appear above the rear fenders, where the rear diffuser adds a central LED fog lamp like a F1 car.

The FT-1 concept’s active real spoiler is replaced by a fixed wing that is mounted dramatically rear-ward of the car’s trunk — for max high-speed stability and long-tail effects to help actually cut drag at 150-mph-plus speeds.

So what is this Life/Art thing?

The FT-1 was initially approved via dynamic GT6 play by none other than Akio Toyoda himself, the head of the firm.

THen a concept hit real life in Detoit while the FT-1 street car became playable in GT6 by all.

Now the FT-1 appears to be on the road to real-life showrooms as the next Supra.

So back to Art: the FT-1 Vision GT racecar.

Will the FT-1 race in real life?

If the cycle of Art –> Life –> plays as usual: yes, yes it will.

TEASER VIDEO

Shows a likely turbocharged inline-six engine. That is all we know. More turbo blow-off-valve harmonics than a BMW street car. But less than a BMW racecar…

Toyota FT-1 Vision GT

 

 

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Toyota FT-1 Digital Colorizer

The FT-1 Concept is the next Supra. It just is.

Toyota has commissioned a second prototype in a new color, so we’ve helped render the stunning Detroit 2014 FT-1 concept in 100-plus other shades to help them pick.

Sure, some are better than others. But totally changing the color of a car is not an easy thing to do! Nor is it a standard set of commands, even. Every photo is different in its needs.

Surprising is the black – which looks amazing!  This is the color most of the final-gen Supra’s ended up after years of modifications and tuning, so why not go with that color from day one?

A gloss primer grey also looks nice, but was not intentional. We made an error on Photoshop and would have had to start again to do the big color sequences. So only a few choices to see from the rear three-quarter angle – with the rest from the front.

The only color not included here is the one most likely to be the next prototype: white.

Oh well. Maybe next article =]

2014 TOYOTA FT-1 Digital Colorizer – 150 Shades of Future 2016 Toyota SUPRA TURBO

Best of 2014 Awards – Toyota FT-1 Concept