TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Proof that its
beauty lies on the inside and out, Toyota revealed today a second
interior styling and exterior color for an upscale interpretation
of its sensational FT-1 sports car concept. Developed by Calty
Design Research in Newport Beach,
California, the concept vehicle's graphite exterior paint
and light, saddle-colored leather went on display for the first
time at the Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival gala held on
California's Monterey Peninsula.
The original FT-1 concept ignited sports car enthusiasts and the
automotive world with its January debut at the North American
International Auto Show. Labeled the spiritual pace car for the new
direction of Toyota Global Design, the muscular, curved exterior
builds on Toyota's rich sports coupe heritage dating back to the
2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR2 and most recently Scion FR-S. That first
vehicle stunned in a bold red, while this second FT-1 impresses
with sophisticated graphite. Both share the deeply sculpted intakes
and outlets that support its track-ready nature and the dramatic
lines seemingly shaped by the wind. It's a look that gets the heart
racing.
The color of the upscale leather changes between the first and
second FT-1 vehicles, and the visual difference is striking. The
first car was dominated by bold, masculine black that keeps the
driver focused on the road, while red painted edges and raw metals
provide intriguing accents. In the second, the natural leather on
the seat is supple with an all-natural grain, giving it an
authentic appeal. The painted edges that are red in the first
concept are now subtly blended brown in the second. The intention
is to bring in a more sophisticated feel and authenticity through
color choice, showcasing the versatility of the FT-1 sports car
concept. Enthusiasts who desire a more pure high-performance
experience might choose the black-red pairing, while others may
desire the premium, athletic feel of the saddle leather.
"From the start of the FT-1 project, we wanted the driver to
have a feeling of flow while at the wheel – to be able to focus on
the road and nothing else," said Sellene
Lee, the Calty creative designer who proposed both color
concepts. "In the color studio we help create the atmosphere of the
vehicle, and our aim was to ensure everything supported the driver
through efficient choices. The saddle leather maintains that same
'in the zone' driving intention, while bringing in a more premium
feeling."
Superhero Inspiration for the Interior
Sellene Lee drew inspiration for
the FT-1 interior from the modern, high-tech performance materials
used for today's superhero costumes. A movie poster drew her
attention to the modern shift from past heroes' bright tights and
colors to today's performance fabrics and function. To achieve the
FT-1's advanced-looking, intricately detailed interior,
Sellene Lee and the team compared
leather thicknesses, grain sizes and textures to find the perfect
combination. Raised metal mesh provides ventilation for the seats
while lending a more textural, bold effect that beautifully matches
with the metal accents. A dimensional embossed pattern on the
instrument panel leather brings in a 3-D, technical look.
"From color and trim standpoint in the FT-1, there was a
laser-like focus on staying true to function," said Wendy Lee, studio chief designer at Calty. "This
project was very special, as the FT-1 stands apart in its
performance-driven, authentic purpose."
Beyond her superhero performance material concept, Sellene Lee moved away from the typical
stitching or piping edge treatment found in many vehicle interiors.
The painted red edges on the welded leather and painted brown edges
on the second FT-1 were inspired by high-end leather bags she found
in an upscale department store. When drivers sit in FT-1, they can
feel the difference in materials, textures and color choices that
resulted from the team's work.
Double the Fun in Gran Turismo 6
This September, in celebration of the 15th
anniversary of the Gran Turismo series, Calty has also
designed an ultra high-performance race version of the FT-1 that
will be available for download virtually in Gran Turismo 6 (GT6),
the latest iteration of the best-selling racing franchise
exclusively on PlayStation®3. Inside the game, the special
concept is called the FT-1 "Vision GT" and interprets what a
full-race FT-1 might achieve on the track. See how the FT-1 Vision
GT came to life by watching this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuXFyCHp59w
The GT6 played an important role in helping key executives
(including Toyota President Akio
Toyoda) better experience the FT-1 concept prior to building
the vehicle. Both virtual versions capture the same excitement,
passion and performance the physical FT-1 vehicles inspire in those
who see them.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the
Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live
through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years,
we've built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14
manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people.
Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million
cars and trucks in 2013 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota
vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road
today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the
country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As
part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how
garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community
organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good.
For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
About the Gran Turismo® Franchise
Gran Turismo®
celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2013, having first
appeared internationally in 1998. The multi-award-winning franchise
has been the most successful ever for PlayStation®, and in 2013 it
also surpassed worldwide sales of 70 million units. Various
iterations of Gran Turismo have been created for
PlayStation® , PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system,
PlayStation®3 and PSP (PlayStation® Portable), and have always been
regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulators ever
created due to true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology
and design. Since the inception of Gran Turismo, famed creator
Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony
Digital Inc. in Japan have
revolutionized the racing category as we know it today. His
offerings provide the most realistic driving simulation in the
industry and a unique medium for automotive manufacturers to
showcase their products. Gran Turismo®5, the latest iteration of
the game, was released in 2010 and has sold 10 million units
worldwide. The latest entry into the franchise, Gran Turismo®6,
released on December 6, 2013.
"Gran Turismo", "Gran Turismo 6," "PlayStation",
"PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of
Sony Computer Entertainment, LLC
Toyota Division
Communications
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Craig
Taguchi
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(310) 468-3282 or
craig_taguchi@toyota.com
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Sam Butto
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(310) 468-7728 or
sam_butto@toyota.com
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Media Web site:
http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
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Public Web site:
http://www.toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota