Automotive journalist Peter Lyon says that Toyota’s FT-1 concept represents a preview of a long-awaited Supra revival.
Toyota unveiled the striking FT-1 concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January and they had stated that it will remain strictly a concept set to be showcased in virtual form in Gran Turismo 6. Peter Lyon now says that Toyota is working on a new Supra which will essentially be a production variant of the FT-1 concept with a hybrid powertrain consisting of a V6 2.5-liter turbocharged engine working with an electric motor to offer a combined output more than 402 hp (300 kW).
The new Supra will feature a rear-wheel drive layout with a LFA-derived rear transaxle and Toyota will allegedly launch the model sometime in 2016. It should cost less than 100,000 USD and there will also be a base variant with a Lexus NX-sourced 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.
A year later in 2017 Toyota will introduce a new entry-level sportscar to slot below GT86 which will adopt a hybrid setup with a 1.5-liter engine gasoline engine and an electric motor. This model will reportedly cost just 16,000 USD and together with the resurrected Supra will pave the way for a new range of sportscars from Toyota that will probably be co-developed with BMW.
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