Alex Laperriere
It’s a stunning concept, the FT-86 Open. It’s arguably better looking than the Mazda MX-5, what would’ve been its chief rival. However, I’m ready to bet that this car would’ve been much better than the MX-5, had it been produced. Sadly, this is just a concept that never came to production. So then, get yourself a bag of popcorn, a drink, and get ready for a trip down memory lane.
In fact, we will be going 7 years back in memory lane, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. That is where the FT-86 Open was rst debuted. It’s also the last place we ever saw of this incredible concept. The goal behind the FT-86 was to take the already run Toyota 86 and upgrade the fun factor from a 10/10 to 11/10 by making it a convertible. Throughout this, the FT-86 would still retain its 2+2 seating format, while minimally impacting cargo capacity. In other words, it would be a Toyota 86 without a roof, and more importantly, without any compromise. And it was a looker too, not some poorly executed plan that looked hideous. The FT-86 Open really could’ve been an amazing hit for Toyota.
What’s even more disappointing is that this car would’ve been much better than the Mazda MX-5 of its day. The FT-86 Open Concept would’ve had the same engine as the normal Toyota 86 would have had. The Toyota FT-86 Open has 200 horsepower, while the Mazda boasted 167 horsepower. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning the MX-5 was 300 pounds lighter. Still, the Toyota FT-86 Open is faster than the MX-5. In fact, the Mazda did the 0-60 run in 7.6 seconds, while the Toyota FT-86 Open would’ve done it in 7 seconds flat. However, these numbers have a big asterisk on them, as these numbers are based on the normal Toyota 86. The Toyota FT-86 Open Concept might be slower and have a lowered structural integrity, which would affect performance figures. Shockingly though, Toyota says that the FT-86 would’ve had the fastest paddle shifting speed of a minimal 0.2 seconds.
So, Is This Concept Dead?
Given the fact that its been 7 years, it sure seems so. Toyota has been contacted for further details, but at the time of the release of this article, there hasn’t been any response yet. This article will be updated as soon as details reveal themselves.
It’s sad that this car never saw the production line. The FT-86 is a stunning car, that just never quite made it.
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