New Toyota FT-1 variants unveiled

Following a successful debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January, the Toyota FT-1 has returned in a new “superhero”-inspired guise for the Monterey Auto Week. 

For its second outing the concept gains a graphite paint scheme and saddle-coloured leather upholstery, replacing the original’s red and black look for “a more sophisticated feel”.

This may not seem particularly adventurous, but according to Selene Lee, the designer from Toyota’s CALTY creative studio who proposed both FT-1 colour schemes, interior inspiration came from materials used in today’s superhero costumes. 

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Having decided upon a more upmarket finish, the team compared various leathers for thickness, grain sizes and textures. Raised metal mesh and accents complete the look, providing seat ventilation and apparently “lending a more textural” effect that contrasts with the painted brown edges of the welded 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," explained Lee. " The saddle leather maintains that same 'in the zone' driving intention, while bringing in a more premium feeling."

Like the red FT-1, the graphite prototype will be available to download on Playstation’s Gran Turismo 6 virtual racing simulator for a limited time. 

And for good measure… FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo launched 

The Toyota FT-1 Concept has also been re-envisioned as an even more performance-oriented track car by its designers at the California-based CALTY studio.

Called the Vision Gran Turismo, it’ll be available to download on Gran Turismo 6 from September, and provides an insight into just how far a production FT-1 could be developed.

Toyota claims this is down to the original sports coupe concept’s “basic shape and architecture”, which enable the addition of extra cooling and downforce focused add-ons. 

Using a process CALTY dubs ‘function sculpting’, designers added larger tyres and wider wheelarches, plus bigger air intakes and an oversized rear wing. There’s also a revised rear diffuser that now houses enlarged fins and has been set further back for a cleaner airflow.

Now read all about the new Toyota Supra here...