Toyota bids to build a more exciting image with hybrid coupe

Toyota kept a low profile at Detroit, leaving the show-stealing press conferences to the US ‘Big Three’. Aside from new full-size pick-ups, designed to give the US manufacturers a run for their money in the US, Toyota’s announcements seemed to focus on giving the brand some much-needed excitement.

GM’s Volt electric car gained the headlines, but Toyota’s FT-HS Hybrid is likely to make a bigger impact. Essentially an eco-friendly replacement for the Supra, it’s Toyota’s answer to the question of how to create a sports car for the 21st Century that fits in with the eco-friendly spirit of the age.

Kevin Hunter, vice president of Toyota’s Los Angeles-based CALTY Design centre, which designed the car, said: “In addition to driving enjoyment, today’s drivers are concerned about safety, ecology and social responsibility.”

Essentially a high-performance Prius under the skin, it combines a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric hybrid system, giving a target power output of 400bhp. Who said hybrids had to be boring runabouts?

Meanwhile Toyota’s luxury Lexus arm also launched a couple of image cars. The IS-F is a 400bhp V8 version of the IS model, and is the first model to carry Lexus’ new ‘F’ badge, which signifies special performance versions – rather like BMW’s ‘M’ models. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’ll go on sale in limited numbers in 2008.

Lexus also updated the LF-A concept first seen at the 2005 Detroit Show. There’s that ‘F’ again, leading to speculation that the car could be built as a flagship model for the F “brand within a brand”, boosting Lexus’ image in the coupe sector. The LF-A has a 500bhp V10 petrol engine giving a top speed of more than 200mph.