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The world’s largest car maker has teased its vision of an electric Gazoo Racing sports car – and a futuristic electric SUV – with concepts planned for next week’s Tokyo motor show.
Japanese car giant Toyota has teased two electric-car concepts – the FT-Se sports car and FT-3e SUV – due for unveiling at the Tokyo motor show late next week.
While the FT-3e may preview the future of the company’s electric SUV offerings, it is likely the FT-Se – an electric sports coupe wearing the branding of Toyota’s performance-car division Gazoo Racing (GR) – will draw more attention on the motor show stand.
It appears to be an evolution of an electric sports-car concept unveiled by Toyota in December 2021, distinguished by a near-identical roofline, and upswept black bodywork to house the tail-lights.
Toyota says the FT-Se is a “high-performance sports [electric] model proposed as one of the options for sports cars in the carbon-neutral era”, and that it incorporates “the expertise gained in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s efforts to make ever-better cars through motorsports.”
The sports car is said to share “major components” with the SUV, however no technical details on either car have been published.
Toyota promises the FT-Se will “grow with the driver through software updates,” and has a “next-generation cockpit” with “intuitive controls and a more immersive driving experience.”
Looking through the window in the teaser shows a futuristic Formula One-style steering wheel, McLaren-esque portrait control screens, and an instrument display set far ahead of the driver.
Toyota has previously confirmed plans to introduce an electric sports car to showrooms by 2026, but it has long been unclear if it would be a Toyota – or a Lexus, possibly based on the upcoming LFR (or LFA) hybrid supercar.
Meanwhile the FT-3e – the name of which Drive reported on earlier this month from trademark filings – appears to be a mid-size SUV concept that could point to a successor to the still-fresh BZ4X electric SUV.
Fewer details of the FT-3e have been announced, however Toyota claims digital displays on the sides of the body “provide information including battery charge, onboard temperature, and interior air quality when the driver approaches the car.”
It may be underpinned by Toyota’s next-generation electric-car platform, which is due to debut a production vehicle in 2026.
The Japanese car giant’s luxury division Lexus has also announced plans to show a next-generation electric-vehicle concept at the Tokyo motor show, which opens to the media on October 25 and 26.
A media statement from Toyota claims both vehicles will “present … the new experience value offered by cars” as it believes “future mobility will go beyond providing physical transportation tools to becoming a lifestyle partner closely aligned with each customer’s individual values.”
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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