Geneva 2010: Toyota FT-86
03.03.2010   -   Stuart Milne
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The prettiest Toyota for a decade has just been unveiled in Europe - the FT-86. Co-developed with Subaru, the Toyota FT-86 is a lightweight, front engined, rear-wheel drive manual car that's been developed for driving enthusiasts.

It's still a concept, but insiders say it's the baby of Toyota president, Akio Toyoda, so it's pretty much a certainty for production. And although no name has been signed off, the rumours are it will revive the Celica bloodline.

The compact dimension of its Subaru boxer engine means it can sit low in the nose - good for sleek looks, aerodynamics and handling. It seems to have all the right ingredients, and will inject some much-needed pizzazz into the brand that has recently suffered with a series of far-reaching recalls.

Elsewhere on the stand is the Toyota Auris HSD hybrid. It effectively replaces the larger-capacity diesel engines in the Auris, and is the first time Toyota has installed hybrid technology into a standard production car. The Derby-built Auris HSD spearheads Toyota's plans to introduce full hybrid systems across its entire model range by the early 2020s.


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