Toyota designs an even hotter FT-1 for Vision Gran Turismo

Toyota’s FT-1 sports coupe concept raised a storm of approval when it first appeared “in the metal” at this year’s Detroit motor show and then went on to prove its performance in the virtual speed world of the Gran Turismo 6 PlayStation computer game. Now the car’s designers at Toyota’s CALTY studio in California have gone even further to produce a pure-bred racing version to add to the thrill of the more hard-core Vision Gran Turismo.

Toyota’s original intention was for the FT-1 to appeal to die-hard car enthusiasts, so it has been a natural progression for it to develop the concept to deliver an authentic racetrack experience for die-hard Gran Turismo fans.

The FT-1’s basic shape and architecture lend themselves to the addition of extra cooling and downforce elements to develop the car into its Vision guise, using a design process CALTY dubs “function sculpting”. The designers studied real-world race tracks and race cars and applied their research to the styling exercise, delivering a car that broadcasts raw power and performance in its pure, function driven appearance.

Details include wider wheelarches to accommodate the larger tyres needed for extreme grip; enlarged air intakes for increased cooling; and a larger rear wing and front Canard fins to generate greater downforce. There’s also a bigger rear diffuser housing multiple fins, set further back to create a cleaner airflow.

In essence, every detail has been addressed to make the FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo look and feel the way it performs to create the sensation of a real race. The FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo will be available for Gran Turismo 6 users from September.