The new Toyota FT-86 Open Concept will debut at the Geneva Auto Show next week but official images already reveal what we’ll be seeing at the show. This is your first look at what will be the Scion FR-S convertible in the US market.
The Toyota FT-86 is intended as a test for the possibility of a convertible version of the GT86 sports coupe. It’s got the same platform and powertrain with a naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed 1,998cc four cylinder “boxer” engine. The car also has Toyota’s D-4S direct injection technology and can produce 100bhp per litre in either a six-speed manual gear shift or a six-speed automatic with the world’s fastest paddle shift speed of two tenths of a second.
Its external dimensions also match the coupe with the hardtop swapped out for a multi-layered fabric roof that has a glass rear screen. The 2+2 seating format is also maintained with the roof folding down behind the rear seats for minimal impact on trunk space.
The Toyota FT-86 has a front-to-rear weight distribution of 53:47 and a low center of gravity designed to give the best possible response to steering, throttle and brake inputs. The fabric roof may bring that center of gravity lower but they’re still working on matching the balance found in the coupe.
The vehicle being showcased in Geneva is a gorgeous mix of bright white and navy blue with white leather upholstery and yellow accent stitching that matches the carpet. There’s also a beautiful iPhone/iPod holder mounted to the right of the center console that could eliminate the need to buy one and mar the otherwise clean lines of the interior.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. When not drooling over cars, Nicole writes for Wired’s GeekMom.
