Toyota FT-Se concept moves an electric MR2 or Celica successor closer to production

New Toyota FT-Se sports car is one of two EVs the Japanese giant will reveal at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show

Toyota will unveil a new electric sports car concept called the FT-Se at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, suggesting the brand is finally gearing up to launch a zero-emissions successor to its much-loved past models like the MR2 and Celica.

We didn’t need a crystal ball to see this coming though, as an unnamed yet very thought-provoking electric sports car was one of the 11 EV concepts Toyota unveiled in 2021. In fact, if the new teaser images are anything to go by, the new Toyota FT-Se concept will be an evolution of that original concept’s design. The two appear to share similar proportions, and feature a short bonnet, pronounced rear haunches and angular body lines.

The FT-Se will also have a tapered rear windscreen and small ducktail spoiler that look very similar to those found on the latest generation Toyota Supra. The enormous tail-lights that arch underneath the rear spoiler are cues that we haven’t seen before.

Inside, the FT-Se will feature a steering yoke flanked by two small smartphone-style displays. There’s also a much larger digital driver’s display recessed deep into the dashboard, which Toyota says ensures good visibility of the road ahead. Toyota also claims this next-gen cockpit design offers “intuitive controls and a more immersive driving experience,” though how much of it will make production is up for debate.

Toyota hasn’t shared much in terms of technical details, only that the FT-Se will incorporate expertise from its Gazoo Racing division’s “efforts to make ever-better cars through motorsports”. It will also share key components with Toyota’s other concept appearing in Tokyo: the FT-3e concept, which hints at a bold electric SUV to come.

Exactly what the two concepts have in common hasn’t been revealed, but we expect that the cars, or at least their future road-going descendants, will utilise Toyota’s next-generation battery technology announced in September. The Japanese giant is currently developing three new types of battery, including ‘performance’ and ‘high-performance’ lithium-ion packs that in the right EV could offer up to 497 and 621 miles of range, respectively. 

The first of Toyota’s next-gen battery designs isn’t due to arrive until 2026, but that does give us a decent indication of when Toyota’s first electric sports car might hit the road. Toyota is hoping to reduce the height of the batteries in its EVs from 150mm in the existing bZ4X SUV down to 100mm for a high-performance sports car, in part to achieve a low slung driving position.

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