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Toyota FT-1 concept returns

New superhero inspired Toyota FT-1 announced alongside Vision Gran Turismo car.


Remember the Toyota FT-1 concept car from the Detroit Auto Show? How could you forget? Well it's back and it has a fresh lick of paint and an interior upgrade. To be unveiled at Monterey Speed Week the second version of the concept gains graphite grey paintwork and a 'superhero' inspired interior.

Yeah, we are not quite sure what superheroes Toyota's CALTY design team had in mind but with talk of 'high-tech performance materials' it certainly isn't Superman or Thor. To achieve this 'superhero' look Toyota tried different leather thicknesses, grain sizes and textures to find the perfect combination. Raised metal mesh and accents complete the look, providing seat ventilation and "lending a more textural" effect (or so the nice people at Toyota say).

So wait, leather and metal? Maybe we were wrong about Thor being the inspiration!

"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 Selene Lee, one of the CALTY designers. "In the colour 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."

Anything else?
In addition to the 'superhero' car Toyota has also released details of a hard-core version of the FT-1 complete with wider wheelarches, to accommodate larger tyres, enlarged air intakes for increased cooling and a larger rear wing and front 'Canard fins' to generate greater downforce. There's also a bigger rear diffuser housing multiple fins, set further back to create cleaner airflow.

Unfortunately this extreme FT-1 is only available in Gran Turismo as part of Sony's Vision GT series, which is due to go live next month. Still, good to see what 'Son of Supra' could achieve

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Published on August 14, 2014