GRR

Toyota FTSe Concept is the MR2 of the future

25th October 2023
Russell Campbell

The Toyota FT-Se concept has been revealed at the Japan Mobility Show, giving us a two-seater, handling-biased sportscar that is being compared to the mid-engined MR2 that ceased production in 2007.

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Although Toyota has revealed little about the new car's power or drivetrain, the BEV prioritises aerodynamics and handling stability. It's also a shop window for Toyota's new energy-dense 'Performance' lithium-ion battery pack. Its slim design – at 100mm tall, the FT-Se's battery is half the height of the battery in the bZ4X SUV – means the FT-Se can have squat styling reminiscent of Toyota midship motors of old and a low centre of gravity. 

The new battery is 40 per cent cheaper to produce than current technology allows and also gives the FT-Se a range of nearly 500 miles.

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Toyota's new-era modular architecture offers plenty of flexibility in terms of size, shape and powertrain layout, as the company demonstrated by unveiling the FT-3e SUV, which shares the same underpinnings as the FT-Se sportscar. 

But while practical matters are first and foremost in the company's planning, Toyota is keen to ensure that FT-Se is also fun and gets swathes of technology that aim to ensure that. Handling can be refined using over-the-air Arene software updates. The car's also rumoured to get a manual gearbox and technology that emulates a mechanical clutch, with torque dips between 'gear' changes. Toyota could even programme the car to stall if it's not driven smoothly, rewarding good driving.

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You'll find more advantages to the new battery tech inside, where its slim design means the FT-Se offers a low-slung and characteristically sporty driving position. You get a centre infotainment screen, with two more screens sprouting from either side of the steering wheel.

While that's all we know about the FT-Se for now, expect more information on what looks to be a near-production-ready car to be announced in due course.

  • Toyota

  • FTSe Concept

  • Japan Mobility Show 2023

  • Electric Avenue

  • MR2

  • Road

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