Toyota and Lexus at the Detroit Auto Show
Toyota only introduced two cars at the Detroit Auto Show, but they were two extremely impressive cars!
FT for Future Toyota!
On Monday, Toyota pulled the veil off the FT-1, a concept car that will eventually become a production model. When that happens, it will probably replace the Supra, which never had any descendants. Things might have been different if the Scion FR-S had been born under the Supra name, but I digress… The FT-1 is actually much higher on the food chain that the FR-S. Its aggressive lines are on par with the virile machines like the Nissan GT-R or the Corvette—or the upcoming Acura NSX. But let’s not get carried away; as usual, Toyota has kept a tight lid on the technical specs.
The FT-1’s style is characterized by sharp angles, deep cavities, a Viper-like roof and prominent front vents. In fact, I can’t help but wonder if these vents might be more effective at hindering the vehicle’s aerodynamics than cooling the engine or brakes. But since my knowledge of aerodynamics is limited, let’s wait to see whether or not I’m right. At any rate, there’s a good chance that the production model will be considerably tamer. Let’s hope that Toyota keeps the indicator lights on the upper quadrant of the steering wheel! Love them! As a last point, if you can’t wait to drive the FT-1, wait no more. It’s available to everyone . . . in Gran Turismo 6!
Meanwhile at Lexus…
On Tuesday, it was Lexus’ turn to show off its concept, the RC F. Available for sale next fall, this vehicle is powered by a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 that produces more than 450 horsepower and 383 lbs.-ft. of torque. But what do they mean by "more than 450 horsepower and 383 lbs.-ft. of torque?" 451/384? 460/390? We’ll see! The transmission will be an eight-speed automatic, with power sent to the rear wheels. Like the LFA, the RC F will come with an adjustable spoiler to enhance downforce. It will also be equipped with a torque vectoring differential to improve traction on corners.
Its exterior lines are decidedly modern and less flashy than on the Toyota FT-1. Yet, the style is still aggressive enough to infuse the vehicle with personality. That said, I found the dashboard to be fairly tame compared to the vehicle body.
The RC F and the RC350 will challenge some pretty serious competitors. In the case of the RC F, these include the BMW M4 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. At the press conference, Lexus brass mentioned they expected to sell 1,400 units per month in the United States. But unless it’s very competitively priced, that seems like a pretty tall order.
One thing is for sure, however: Lexus’ image is changing and for the better!
