Graphite Toyota FT-1 Second Concept Coming to Pebble Beach (Updated to Include Various Auto Shows)

kamran

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With all these brands showing off their new cars and stamping the date on production dates, Toyota better get off the pot and publicly commit to something! Otherwise many fans who are not "brand" loyal and sitting on the sideline may just pull the trigger and go with what is real and available that offers what they want!....myself included!
 

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With all these brands showing off their new cars and stamping the date on production dates, Toyota better get off the pot and publicly commit to something! Otherwise many fans who are not "brand" loyal and sitting on the sideline may just pull the trigger and go with what is real and available that offers what they want!....myself included!
Out of curiosity, what would you buy? Z06?

Difference between the FT1 concepts and stuff like the Ford GT350 is that the FT1 is truly only a concept and not a production-ready car being previewed. While production is looking to be more and more of a certainty, FT1 is still in early stages of development.

Even if they gave us a guaranteed date, if something better was available before that, I'm going to opt for the better car. A firm release date doesn't change that.
 

kamran

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Out of curiosity, what would you buy? Z06?

Difference between the FT1 concepts and stuff like the Ford GT350 is that the FT1 is truly only a concept and not a production-ready car being previewed. While production is looking to be more and more of a certainty, FT1 is still in early stages of development.

Even if they gave us a guaranteed date, if something better was available before that, I'm going to opt for the better car. A firm release date doesn't change that.
As much as it is against my religion to buy a Corvette, they are looking more and more attractive. With the new GT3 engines still ways to go to be fully developed and track proven, the only "new" car engine out there robust enough for tack-use/abuse is the Vette. Although there was that one report about catching fire.

I actually would have bought a used GT3, if their prices hadn't sky rocketed this past year, as a result of new GT3's fiascos.

If Ford GT plays to the driver enthusiasts instead of collectors, which I'm hoping they are since this will be an actual production car built for racers/racing, depending on the price, it is on my bucket list to rob a bank. I might just have move the robbing thing up the list so I can splurge a little!

I don't like the look of NSX, and the Vette is sacreligeous for me (although if a mid engine, that might be a different story). But I'm sure there are many out there that do like the look of NSX or don't mind being seen driving a Vette!

If FT1 is a concept and no chance of having a future, they need to stop teasing! They have dragged the car around for over a year to gage interests! Ok, now they have it. Lots of interests! What else is left for them to know? Either commit, or get of the pot! The other brands didn't torture their fan base....so what's holding up going public with any sort of statement?
 

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As much as it is against my religion to buy a Corvette, they are looking more and more attractive. With the new GT3 engines still ways to go to be fully developed and track proven, the only "new" car engine out there robust enough for tack-use/abuse is the Vette. Although there was that one report about catching fire.

I actually would have bought a used GT3, if their prices hadn't sky rocketed this past year, as a result of new GT3's fiascos.

If Ford GT plays to the driver enthusiasts instead of collectors, which I'm hoping they are since this will be an actual production car built for racers/racing, depending on the price, it is on my bucket list to rob a bank. I might just have move the robbing thing up the list so I can splurge a little!

I don't like the look of NSX, and the Vette is sacreligeous for me (although if a mid engine, that might be a different story). But I'm sure there are many out there that do like the look of NSX or don't mind being seen driving a Vette!

If FT1 is a concept and no chance of having a future, they need to stop teasing! They have dragged the car around for over a year to gage interests! Ok, now they have it. Lots of interests! What else is left for them to know? Either commit, or get of the pot! The other brands didn't torture their fan base....so what's holding up going public with any sort of statement?
For what it's worth, cars like the Ford GT, Corvette, GT3 were in development for many years before they were unveiled. There were no real concept cars trotted out to gauge interest, as they knew there was a big demand for their product. Toyota hadn't sold an upmarket sportscar since 2002, and only in limited markets. So I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.... but I'm still like you and not very patient :D

On Monday when we saw what Detroit had to offer, I have to admit I thought about swapping my current car for a 2017 Ford Raptor when it comes out, so I'd probably be sportscarless until I had the space to buy a 3rd car. But my car plans change about as often as I change my underwear.

IMO there's nothing new or upcoming right now that is really competing with my desire for an FT1... everything else is either too expensive (Ford GT, 991 Turbo, McLaren Sport Series, even the NSX) or unconsiderable (Corvette). Closest thing is maybe a new GT-R I guess.
 

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I appreciate the development and all. Toyota isn't exactly green in this arena. Plenty of experience with their race cars, prototypes, and Lexus sport and super cars.

The problem with over-showing a car over and over, over the years before it hits production is that it looses much of its "wow" factor, and people may have moved on by the time you make it available. I know for myself that as much as I still think FT1 could be the car of choice for me, if it ever becomes reality, I'm not as excited as I first was (although still enthusiastic) and it doesn't have the "same" impact it first did for the first few months. don't get me wrong, I still want it more than any other car...but just not ten years from now!

Also if its watered down too much by the time it hits production, imho it may go the path of NSX....start looking outdated before it even hits the pavement. I'm exaggerating here, but if it's watered down then who knows...

Most successful designs/productions don't drag the design around long enough that it becomes old news and people wonder off to the other guy's booth with the latest and the greatest at the show. Most successful designers don't unveil their new design until a major show, and immediately/thereafter let the mad rush begin to put in the orders!
 
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kamran

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@kamran good points. Jalopnik had the same points about the NSX reveal and how by the time it came it had already lost steam. - http://jalopnik.com/acura-botched-every-single-aspect-of-the-nsx-launch-1679489073

Hope Toyota realizes that there is such a thing as too much/long for teasing and previewing.
Funny article...I absolutely relate.
When Audi TT concept car showed its face, dealers immediately started taking orders. Lots of false promises were made by Audi, such as it'll be a limited production of 2000/year, etc, etc.

One of the fools that was suckered in by this, then, revelationary trend setting design was your sincerely! I had to go out of state to be in the top three on the wait list. Over three years later, I was the lucky sucker, I mean owner of the first TT Q/225 in the NW! I'm not suggesting Toyota follows Audi's practice. But through a lot of hype they rounded up the public and cashed in on all the suckers, I mean owners who were willing to wait.

On the positive note, they introduced a car, made a promise to deliver (although unreasonably late), and stayed true to the concept after taking our monies! And the production rate was 2000/month per village!
 

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With all these brands showing off their new cars and stamping the date on production dates, Toyota better get off the pot and publicly commit to something! Otherwise many fans who are not "brand" loyal and sitting on the sideline may just pull the trigger and go with what is real and available that offers what they want!....myself included!
Agreed. Besides the people who are following every bit of news religiously (like on this forum), most of the stuff I read online are people doubting the FT-1 is the next Supra or doubting that Toyota will be making a flagship sports car. If they put out an official statement or a "Supra concept" I bet a lot of people would start holding off on purchases of other cars.
 

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I don't think Toyota will let the Supra go stale like the NSX.... but then again the LFA took ~10 years to arrive.

If we go with Toyota 86 timeline (which has been discussed many times here before) the best we can reasonably expect is to see a production-ready car by January 2016 (Detroit), with real deliveries late that year or in the next. That would still be awfully soon (as was the 86).
 

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^ This would be ideal if they dont give us any news this year and surprise us next year with a production ready version for a 2017 model.
 

kamran

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As long as they commit and set a date, and start taking deposits to lock the enthusiasts in, in case they run off to some other brands, that would be a smart move. Dragging the concept car around for one more year, until the design wears off of people and becomes old news is not a smart marketing move.

At some point people will stop gathering around the booth at the shows anymore...like someone posted and asked on this thread if the pictures were taken after hours!
 

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Toyota shows off its FT-1 concept car during the media preview at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on January 13, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

377749164.jpg
 

kamran

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Holy macaroni! This is scary...
The only word that was worded differently was I said "...get off the pot", and the writer says "...get off the assembly line". For political reasons I'm sure!

I think I'm going to stop posting here, cause it appears almost as if I'm forging and posting what the media says before they are posted here!!!??? Dayum....!
 

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Probably no new info or we'd have read about it. Looks empty. Was it early in the show or not much interest in the car?
It was probably early when those photos were taken.

ClubLexus moderator J.P. had this to say.

J.P.;8872614 said:
This booth at the auto show had as many people as the NSX and Ford GT, car looks simply amazing, why it is not to market yet I don't know...
Sponsored

 
 




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