Toyota has unveiled a new concept that previews a sleek electric sports car, set to arrive by 2026.
Toyota’s GR (Gazoo Racing) performance brand is set to take things up a gear as an all-new electric sports car has been announced to sit alongside the likes of the petrol-powered Toyota GR Yaris and GR Supra and act as a successor to the MR2 roadster of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Dubbed the Toyota FT-Se, the zero-emissions coupe is only a concept for now, but it previews a production model that’s set to arrive in the next few years to challenge the likes of the upcoming electric Porsche Boxster, Caterham Project V and MG Cyberster.
By the looks of things, the FT-Se could become one of the most striking Toyota models yet; the concept’s hunkered stance has been made possible through Toyota’s new ultra-dense battery technology, which is being designed to provide an even lower centre of gravity. The FT-Se’s bodywork, on the other hand, has been sculpted to “reduce aerodynamic drag”, while the angular front end has more than a whiff of McLaren Senna about it.
Interestingly, the FT-Se doesn’t feature any Toyota badges; with this in mind, the electric sports car could be the first to ditch the ‘Toyota’ namesake in favour of becoming an exclusive model to the Gazoo Racing brand – almost mirroring the AMG GT’s position within the Mercedes-Benz line-up.
While we’re yet to experience the driver’s seat of the FT-Se, the latest pictures give us a good idea of what to expect, with an F1-style steering wheel and fully digital instrument cluster taking centre stage. The latter has been devised to provide “intuitive controls and a more immersive driving experience”, with its low positioning offering the driver a clear view of the road ahead.
Powering the FT-Se will likely be Toyota’s new ‘Performance’ battery pack, which is currently in development and set to be ready for production in 2026. According to the Japanese giant, this new technology will be 20% cheaper than the battery packs currently fitted to Toyota models, while also offering a range of up to 800km.
It’s fair to suggest the Toyota FT-Se will be powered by either a rear-mounted electric motor – most likely – or perhaps even a dual-motor four-wheel-drive setup on top models. Looking at the competition, the MG Cyberster is already quoted to output 246kW, with flagship cars pushing a supercar-rivalling 395kW. We expect the FT-Se to get close to, or perhaps even surpass these figures, reaching 62mph in five seconds or less.
Of course, a lot of this is a little pie in the sky at the moment; the production version of the FT-Se isn’t expected to arrive until at least 2026 when the aforementioned Performance battery tech makes its debut.